Nearly 60 people came to learn fishing skills at the “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” (LLGF) Gulf Coast University March 11-12 at the Greater Pine Island Elks Lodge.
The University offered education, hands-on fishing activities, networking and an optional fishing trip. While the participants were predominately female, some brought husbands and teens for the whole family to learn fishing.
The “No Yelling School of Fishing” began on Saturday, with classroom presentations by Betty Bauman/Fishing Basis/Conservation, Craig Timbes “Snook Cowboy”/Best Times to Fish and Capt. Jon Fetter/Inshore Fishing. The curriculum included hands-on skill practice such as hook removal/release techniques, knot tying, fly casting, spin casting, net casting and backing with Magic Tilt Trailers. The event concluded with a fundraiser.
Women came for many reasons, some to learn so they could take their children fishing, others to learn how to fish on their own boats, some to network with other women interested in fishing. Those who fish in northern states wanted to learn inshore fishing techniques for Florida.
On Sunday, participants embarked on their chosen fishing adventures from boats where they caught or released snook, snapper, flounder, sea trout and other species.
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, ACR Electronics and Fish Florida. Annual sponsors are, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Freedom Boat Club, Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, Treasure Cay Beach, Marina & Golf Resort, Sunrise Resort & Marina, AFTCO/Guy Harvey, Future Angler Foundation, Savage Gear/Okuma, Seaguar, Power-Pole and Harbor Financial Services.
Other LLGF events include:
March 25 Juno Beach Surf Fishing
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 Homosassa Scalloping
Sept. 9-10 Northeast Florida Seminar weekend St. Augustine
Oct. 20-22 Keys Seminar Weekend/Islamorada
Nov. 17-19 Everglades/Chokoloskee Adventure
Dec. 1-3 Miami Seminar Weekend
International Adventures:
April 6-10-12 Havana-Las Terrazas-Varadero Cuba
April 18-24 Costa Rica
April 29-May 3 Havana-Santiago Cuba
May 16-21 Havana Fishing/Snorkeling
Contact: Phone: (954) 475-9068; [email protected]; www.ladiesletsgofishing.com, www.facebook.com/ladiesletsgofishing.
Ft. Myers/Matlacha University Fishing Report – Half Day, Sunday, March 12, 2017
“Caught” could signify either landing or releasing.
Fishing Report:
Capt. Jack Deck Boat: The ladies caught or released four mangrove snappers and one catfish. They experienced how to see fish on a GPS/depth sounder, knot tying and boat docking. They saw manatees, schools of trout and blue crabs in a trap.
Capt. Rob Locke/Reel Em in Charters: Fishing with live bait, participants caught or released five snook, one 24 inch sea trout and a 12 inch flounder. They learned how to hook shrimp through the head and reported learning much from Locke.
Capt. Rob Fussnecker/Aqua Breeze Fishing Charters: The ladies caught fifteen sheepshead, one sea trout and a jack crevalle.
Capt. Brian Lynch: Fishing with live bait, the ladies released ten snook between 16 and 26 inches and a 12 lb. jack crevalle. They experienced using a trolling motor, how to avoid getting snagged in mangroves and technical fishing with a moving boat (casting in a particular order one at a time).
Capt. Mike Wilson: The ladies fished with popping corks, live shrimp and top water lures.
Kayak Fishing/Gulf Coast Kayaks/Dan Carnes: Three ladies chose kayak fishing, releasing three sea trout, one ladyfish and one catfish. They practiced spin casting, using popping corks with shrimp and fishing with artificial baits.
About “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!”
“Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!®” (LLGF) is a nonprofit national organization dedicated to attracting more women to sport fishing and to promoting conservation and responsible angling. LLGF promotes networking and encourages mentorship. Founded in 1997 by Betty Bauman, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, LLGF has over 8,000 graduates and is the largest organization in the world whose objective is to introduce primarily women to fishing. Both Bauman and the University series – often dubbed “The No-Yelling School of Fishing” – are renowned nationally in the sport fishing and marine industries. The organization has earned rave reviews from national media including “Inside Edition,” CBS’ “The Early Show,” NBC’s “Nightly News,” “Good Morning America,” “Outdoor Life Network,” USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, Southern Living and more.
By: Betty Bauman
