ISLAMORADA, FL-9/07 - Women traveled from many different states for many reasons to learn fishing skills at the 8th Annual Keys "Ladies, Let's Go Fishing!"® seminar, Sept. 14-16 at Holiday Isle Resorts & Marina, Islamorada, FL. Pat Fitz, Naples, FL had recently married a fishing fanatic and wanted to step up to his level. Ann Medford, a journalist from Southhold, NY attended to understand the reason why fishing is a multi-million dollar industry. Lynn Butters, Brooksfield, FL treated herself to a special birthday weekend of fishing. There were also eight mother/daughter or relative groups who came to enjoy a weekend of learning about fishing together. 

Known as the "No-Yelling School of Fishing," this award-winning series for women, held in conjunction with Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and presented by Mercury Outboards, kicked off with a Friday Welcome Reception at Holiday Isle. Learning commenced on Saturday, where fishing techniques were taught at beginner and intermediate/advanced levels to more than 80 women. Instructors and topics were: Capt. Lee Lavery/fishing basics; Capt. George Mittler/bluewater fishing; Capt. Skip Bradeen/bottom fishing; Capt. Eric Bass/flats fishing, Michelle Owen/Conservation and Capt. Randy Crenshaw/fly fishing. After lunch, the women participated in several "hands-on" fishing stations, such as conservation techniques, spin casting, net casting, releasing, knot tying, gaffing grapefruits, boat handling, trailer backing and reeling against pressure. To complete the experience, a fishing trip on Sunday gave the women a chance to practice their skills on the water and learn to fillet fish.

The ocean came alive for the Fishing Adventure on Sunday. Departing from Whale Harbor and fishing offshore and inshore, participants caught and/or released tuna, dolphin, snook, tarpon, snapper, grouper, mackerel, sea trout and more. Every boat caught multiple fish.

The date for the final 2007 seminar in St. Petersburg, FL is Oct. 12-14. Registration is $135 and charter rates range from $60 to $185. "Ladies, Let's Go Fishing!" also offers memberships in Florida local chapters. The public can be notified of the 2008 seminar dates by signing up for the email advisory list on www.ladiesletsgofishing.com. 

The Islamorada seminar registration was $150 for the seminar, including meals, T-Shirts, goody bags, educational lectures, hands-on skill practice, use of equipment, door prizes and more. The fishing adventure, with fishing tackle and bait provided, was additional. A special sailfishing event is offered in Costa Rica on Jan. 21-25, 2008. Contact: LLGF, phone 954-475-9068, fax 954-474-7299, email: billfishbetty@hotmail.com, web site: www.ladiesletsgofishing.com. 
 
Islamorada Fishing Reports, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007
 
With perfect fishing conditions, every boat reported fishing action. In the report, "caught" could signify landing or releasing.
 
Offshore: 
 
Blue Chip Too / Capt. Wayne Kvadus: Jeannette Rosenbruch, Doylestown, PA used a sabiki for the first time and caught blue runners. Lurue Lord, Statesboro, GA threw the cast net several times and caught lots of ballyhoo. All of the girls rigged bait bait, tied their own knots and they all caught fish! The ladies reported catching yellowtail, mutton snappers, dolphin and kingfish just to name a few.
 
Killer White / Capt. Shaun Matthews: All six of the ladies caught fish - 10 blackfin tuna, the biggest weighing in at 25 pounds, skipjack tuna and yellowtails. Caryn St. John, Riviera Beach, FL gaffed her first fish!
 
Old Hatt / Capt. Ron Moore: Each of the six women caught at least one blackfin tuna and some as many as four. They experienced offshore trolling and practiced rigging their own baits. Lynn Butters, Brooksville, FL celebrated her birthday by catching four fish.
 
Miller Time / Capt. Dirk "O" Reich: Tina Cook, Hobe Sound, FL caught a 29 pound blackfin tuna. Claudia Garofalo, Palm Beach Gardens, FL caught a 25 pound bull dolphin. All six of the ladies caught blackfin tuna. The gals also learned how to tie a bimini twist and some secrets on how to cast net bait!
 
*Whatever it Takes / Chuck Baldwin: The ladies caught over a dozen blackfin tuna. They experienced multiple hook-ups and also learned how to catch bait. Natalie Costello, Rockford, MI landed a respectable number of tuna for her first time offshore!
 
Caribsea / Capt. Kenny Spaulding: The Captain took the ladies off the 409 and the West Hump. All of the ladies caught fish including 10 dolphin and 14 blackfin tuna. Laura Haughie, Boca Raton, FL caught her first tuna and dolphin ever! The ladies had nonstop action all day and lost several tuna to the sharks. 
 
Inshore: 
 
Capt. Eric Bass: Piper Marsh, Summerland Key, FL caught a snook and her mother, Janice Czerwinski, Summerland Key released a tarpon. The ladies learned to sight cast and reported having a great time in the back country.
 
*Capt. Kerry Wingo: Cindy Ypsilanti, Key Largo, FL released several redfish and landed one over 19" as well as releasing a 16.5" trout. Bonnie O'Hara, Tulsa, OK released one trout and lots of snook. Arlene Haessler, Marathon, FL also released multiple snook, trout, redfish as well as one shark that put up a nice fight. Overall, the ladies released more than 20 snook!
 
Capt. Mark Johnson: Valerie Jolley and Dieu Van Tran, Jacksonville, FL had a busy day! The ladies released over 50 fish including trout, snook, snapper, redfish, sharks, ladyfish and catfish. 
 
Capt. Randy Stallings: Jody Steele, Miami Beach, FL and Nancy Telese, Palm Beach, FL had a stellar day with over 37 releases combined! The ladies caught snook, trout, redfish and mangrove snapper.
 
Capt. Bob Jones: Shannon Schiner, Coral Gables, FL and Sharon Zamojski, Deerfield Beach, FL spent the day practicing their fly fishing skills. The ladies reported a fun day of sight casting and released a few trout on fly.
 
*Take the Ladies Fishing Sponsors
 
Comments from participants:
"Fishing is a humane sport, not a seek and destroy sport." - A. Medford, Southold, NY 
"Fishing is not nuclear physics (quote from Capt. Eric Bass)" - V. Cruz, Sorrento, FL

"I will teach my husband to fish and promise not to yell at him!" R. Wagaman, Indialantic, FL 

"Have fun, don't take "excitement" voices as yelling!" - V. Cruz, Sorrento, FL

"Any woman would love it if they like to fish" - B. Williams, Marathon, FL

We learned to fish as a team" - A. Young, Palm Beach Gardens, FL

 
