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Women proudly hold their fish caught on Reel Busy
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They came, they braved the seas and returned home with fishing knowledge!
It was great to have a full class of nearly fifty women at the Treasure Coast "Ladies, Let's Go Fishing!" (LLGF) University May 16-18 at Pirates Cove Resort & Marina, Stuart, FL. Held in conjunction with support from Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) with Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration, the program offered women a chance to learn, practice and go fishing.
Alexandria Newbold traveled from the Bahamas to learn fishing basics as she explores how to make a living in the fishing industry. Amy Ramondt, Palm Beach, FL wanted to learn the sport with no yelling. "You just can't know enough about fishing," said repeat attendee Andrea Edick, Jensen Beach, FL.
The LLGF University kicked off with the Harbor Financial Services Welcome Reception Friday evening, where sponsors and donors were recognized.
The classroom portion began at 8 am on Saturday. Fishing topics were Conservation and Fish Habitats/Heather Sneed of the FWC, Rod and Reel Basics/Capt. Melinda Buckley, Offshore Fishing/Capt. George Mittler, Inshore Fishing/Capt. Marcia Foosaner and a presentation by The Everglades Foundation. Lunch featured a fishing fashion show. After lunch, the women participated in several hands-on fishing stations, such as conservation techniques, spin casting, net casting, landing and releasing, trailer backing with Magic Tilt and Ranger, fly casting, artificial lures with Capt. Mark Nichols/D.O.A. Lures, knot tying, rod and reel maintenance with 4 Reel Systems, gaffing grapefruits and reeling against pressure. Other instructors included Capt. Giles Murphy of Stuart Angler, Roy Buckley and Vicky Sides.
On Sunday, participants practiced their newly learned skills from inshore, offshore and a group party boat charter.
Major partners also included Mercury Outboards, Ranger, Minn Kota, Humminbird and Magic Tilt Trailers. Annual sponsors were West Marine, Bimini Big Game Club, Treasure Cay, Old Bahama Bay, Harbor Financial Services, Sunrise Resort & Marina, Valentines Resort & Marina, Wear Video Badge, Aftco/Guy Harvey, Hook and Tackle and All Rite Grading. See below for their logos. On our website we list our Annual Patron sponsors: Star Brite, Cannon Downriggers, Cabot Cheese, Taylor Made Products, Aylesworth's Fish & Bait and Ocean Tamer. Treasure Coast-only sponsors were The Everglades Foundation and Pirates Cove Resort & Marina. Patron sponsors for the Treasure Coast event were Coconut Palm Inn, Daggaboy Safaris, Capt. Squeeky Kelly, Capt. Jonathan Earhart, Tigress Outriggers, Lewis Marine Supply Stuart, Black Bart and Terry Gibson. Those and other contributors for the auction and raffle are listed on our website, click here to see a list of all of them!
The final 2014 event is in Islamorada/Tavernier, Florida Keys Nov. 14-16. You can register at 
www.ladiesletsgofishing.com.
Treasure Coast Fishing Report, 5/17/2014
With sunny skies and sporty seas up to 4', the ladies fished offshore and inshore. While the fishing wasn't as good as what we're used to, every boat at least had hookups. Mahi mahi and king mackerel were brought back for the ladies to learn to fillet.Some of the inshore boats got to see part of the boat race.
Reel Busy: Trolling ballyhoo 10 miles out, every lady had a chance to reel against a fish. Two ladies caught their first mahi mahi ever. Nancy Vickers, Plantation, FL had a 17 lb. fish and Laurie Welton, Fort Pierce, FL caught a 14 lb. mahi. The women said they were excited to see multiple dolphin coming to the boat and identifying fish in the water by their colors. They practiced rigging ballyhoo and tying leaders.
Sunday: The ladies went trolling and learned more about rigging ballyhoo. They had fun but didn't have any luck catching. One kingfish was landed, however a second fish bit off the best half.
Infinity/Capt. Charlie Burns: Fishing with pilchards seven miles out, the women had some fish action, with two unidentified hookups and a large mahi mahi that got away at the boat. They learned how to rig a pin fish and set a spread of baits.
My Other Honey/Capt. Pete Morello: Trolling offshore and live baiting with pilchards, Alexandria Newbold, Nassau, Bahamas caught a 25 inch king mackerel. The ladies had 12 hookups, many of which were large king mac 
kerel. They learned more about rigging.
Chaos Charters/Capt. Jon Earhart: Fishing near docks, seawalls, piers and beaches with live pilchards, Paula Roth, West Palm Beach, FL released a 5 lb. jack crevalle, her first jack ever. Diane McMahon, Ft. Lauderdale, FL released a 25 inch snook. They learned free-lining techniques and how to put the hook in a pilchard.
Outlaw Charters/Capt. Joe Massaro: Boating more than 40 miles to target fish, June Phillips, Stuart, FL had fun fishing and but only caught bait fish. Massaro said the week of the full moon affects fishing negatively.
Buck's Tale/Capt. Melinda Buckley: It was a day of incredible experiences on Buck's Tale. Robin Read, Delray Beach, FL released an 18" flounder, Diane Wood, Fort Lauderdale, FL released a 25" sea trout, Carol Berk, Palm Beach, FL released a 20" ladyfish and a small jack crevalle. The ladies enjoyed the scenery of sea turtles, osprey, a manatee, snook chasing bait in the mangroves and a sheephead and barracuda hiding among a school of porpoises. They learned how to use a de-hooker to remove hooks.
Lady Stuart: Bottom fishing on the party boat, Kenna Dwyer, Stuart FL caught 4 grunts and a lane snapper, Teri Kasper, Glen Arbor, MI caught a lane snapper, sea bass and grunts and Sylvia Thomas, West Palm Beach, FL caught two blue runners. The ladies braved rough seas three miles out. Most of the fish caught on the boat were small but the nine ladies still had a great day.
