New Anglers Hook Fishing Skills at "Ladies, Let's Go Fishing!" Keys University Oct. 21-23, 2016
A full class came
from around the country to learn from the pros at the award winning "Ladies, Let's Go Fishing!®" Keys University, October 21-23 at the Elks Lodge, Tavernier, FL.
The University kicked off on Friday with the Harbor Financial Services meet-and-greet social featuring networking, fundraisers and an incredible Master Chef Appetizer Contest. While all entrants received a gift, the victor was David Kittrell, Islamorada, FL for Seared Tuna.
Saturday's events began with classroom presentations on fishing basics, offshore, bottom and inshore fishing, followed by lunch and hands-on fishing skills until 4 pm. Speakers were Stu Apte, Allison Stattner and Captains Gary Ellis and Lee Lavery. Skills such as releasing, conservation, knot tying, bait rigging, spin, fly and net casting, gaffing grapefruits and more were offered for hands-on practice.
Saturday events concluded with a silent auction, followed by a networking party with food and fun hosted by Seaside Glassworks, Islamorada, FL.
On Sunday, participants embarked on a fishing adventure out of Whale Harbor Marina, Islamorada, FL followed by a fish fillet demonstration. Fish caught or released included sailfish, mahi, yellowtail snapper, king mackerel, mutton snapper, red grouper, bonito, snook, bonefish, mangrove snapper, sharks and more. On Friday was a Bonus Fishing Day featuring a double sailfish hookup.
Featured on national network television and more, the series is supported by major partners including Recreational Fishing and Boating Foundation, Mercury, Ranger Boats, Magic Tilt trailers, Penn, Humminbird, Minn Kota and Fish Florida. Annual sponsors are Freedom Boat Club, Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, Treasure Cay Beach, Marina & Golf Resort, Sunrise Resort & Marina, AFTCO/Guy Harvey, Future Angler Foundation, Seaguar and Harbor Financial Services. Keys-only sponsors were Calusa Cast Nets, Breezy Palms and Seaside Glassworks. Click HERE to see the sponsor list. Click HERE to see the full list of all Keys contributors. Please remember them when you are shopping! A BIG thank you to all who contributed! We are working your individual thank yous. Any sponsor or donors who have not already secured your support for next year, please EMAIL us!
The final LLGF event of 2016 is a fishing adventure Nov. 19-20 in the Gulf Coast Everglades 10,000 Islands/Chokoloskee, FL. Reservations are recommended asap due to limited availability of overnight lodging and fishing/kayak mothership charters.
Upcoming 2017 tentative plans are:
Jan. 11-16 Cuba
March 11-12 West Coast Florida seminar weekend Ft. Myers/Matlacha
March 25 Stuart Surf Fishing Clinic
April 21-23 South Florida Seminar Weekend
May 20-21 Clearwater FL Inshore/Bay Seminar weekend
June 17-18 Keys Fishing Adventure Islamorada, Anyone Can Win Tournament
July 29-30 Northern Gulf Coast Homosassa Scalloping
Sept. 9-10 Northeast Florida Seminar weekend St. Augustine
Nov. 17-19 Keys Seminar Weekend/Islamorada (backup date is Oct. 20-22)
WE NEED INPUT ON THIS DATE. We were going to have it again in October but some ladies prefer November. The only Nov. choice is the weekend before Thanksgiving. You still have time afterwards to get your turkeys. Please
EMAIL us on your preference.
Dec. 1-3 Miami Seminar Weekend
Jan. 2018 TBA 10,000 Islands Gulf Coast Chokoloskee Adventure
Check the website for updates.
Fishing Report - Islamorada, FL. Oct. 21-24 2016
With sunny skies and 2-4 ft. seas all boats produced fish. "Caught" could mean either landed or released.
Offshore Boats: Friday Full Day Fishing
Caribsea/Capt. Kenny Spaulding
: Spotting three sailfish about five miles out and pitching live bait with spinning reels, Andrea Beuter, Fort Myers, FL and
Tracy McCandless, Islamorada, FL had an exciting double header hookup. McCandless released her sail while Beuter's sailfish pulled the hook at the boat after a 20 minute fight. Beuter caught a 20.5 inch red grouper. Everyone caught a bull mahi approx. 12-15 lbs. with simultaneous multiple hookups. Dawna Young, Fort Myers, FL caught a 25 inch blackfin tuna. Bonito were also caught.
Blue Chip Too/Capt. Skip Bradeen:
Janet Steiner, St. Augustine, FL caught a 12 lb. mutton snapper. The ladies caught five kingfish in the 16 to 17 inch range and 20 yellowtail snapper. They had a chance to experience kite fishing.
Offshore Boats - Sunday 3/4 Day Fishing:
Blue Chip Too/Capt. Skip Bradeen:
Fishing 5 miles out with spinning rods and jigs topped with shrimp, all the ladies caught yellowtail snapper for a total of 30. They caught blue runners for bait. Three kingfish and two bonito were caught while trolling with bait.
Costa Morada/Capt. Claude Tristram:
Donna Golding, Islamorada, FL had the thrill of releasing her first sailfish ever, estimated at 50 lbs. Graduates also caught two kingfish and two bonito. Tracy Gray, North Fort Myers, FL caught her first fish ever, a bonito.
Caribsea/Capt. Kenny Spaulding
: Julie Mayer, Taneytown, MD released a
sailfish using a spinning rod and live bait about 3 miles past the Alligator light. Krystal Ward and Sal DaLuca each caught a king mackerel about 17-19 inches. The catch included blackfin tuna, three bonito and two yellowtail snapper.
Inshore Boats - Sunday 3/4 Day Fishing:
Capt. Chris Hanson Scales 2 Tales
: Larry Schmitz, Tavernier, FL released a snook. The others caught jack crevalle. They caught finger mullet for bait, learned to bait hooks and how to retrieve hooks from mangroves. They enjoyed a comfortable ride in the choppy waters on the 22 foot Ranger boat.
Party/Drift boat/Island Star:
Sarah Sawyer caught a 25 inch remora. Participants caught a keeper yellowtail, small mutton snapper, 2 porgies and a grunt. Some returned to Wahoos for their "Cook your Catch."
Capt. Bob Jones/Jones Fishing
: Mindy Wimberly, Davie, FL released her first bonefish ever, 4 lbs. at Snake Creek using shrimp. Participants released five bonnethead sharks estimated at 3-4 lbs.
Offshore Boat - Monday Half Day Fishing
Costa Morada/Capt. Claude Tristram:
The ladies released two large barracuda up to 35 inches.
A Hearty Thank- you goes to all our valued instructors and volunteers!