"Ladies, Let's Go Fishing!"® Fishing Report, Islamorada, FL Oct. 19, 03

Islamorada Event Oct. 17-19 - Another great success! We were pleased to have a great crowd and awesome fishing at our Islamorada seminar!

Tournament Winners: Top Offshore Boat: 44 lb. dolphin/440 pts., Carine Bullock, Palm City, FL, on Blue Chip Too, Capt. Skip Bradeen

Top Inshore Boat: 7.7 lb. snook/77 pts., Beth Williams, Waverly, GA on Laid Back, Capt. Brian Cutchins

Top Party Boat: 17 inch red grouper/40 pts.(released), Sue Lockhart, Palmetto, FL on Miss Tradewinds

Top Sailfish Release: 1 release/10 pts., Jia Miller, Estero, FL on Destiny, Capt. Jim Schneider

Top Bonefish Release: 1 release/10 pts., Mary Trice, West Palm Beach, FL on Endangered Species, Capt. Eddie Hill

Boat Reports:

Gotcha: "This was the biggest fish I ever caught!" exclaimed Danielle Myers, West Palm Beach, FL describing a 9.6 lb. black grouper. Yellowtail snapper was the catch of the day for each of the ladies.

Challenger: The women had a great time catching 4 dolphin and 6 kingfish.

Dee Cee: The women caught dolphin, red & mutton snapper. Laurie Rogers had an exciting half hour fight with a dolphin. They learned how to bait balllyhoo for bottom fishing.

Blue Chip Too: "Awesome!" said Amy Theismann, who went fishing for her first time ever and caught dolphin. Each woman caught dolphin. Carine Bullock was breathless after fighting the winning fish of the offshore division, a 44 lb. dolphin.

Destiny: It was sailfish season for these women. Jia Miller released her first sail ever and Dee Sims lost one. Three of the women released sharks. Jean Blum caught a kingfish and Jia also caught barracuda.

Dog House: All six women got to fight at least two fish. They caught 2 sharks, 2 bonitas, 8 king mackerels and jacks.

Jennie Q: Carolyn Klop caught her first cobia ever. Mary Ann Sims caught her first kingfish. The women also caught blackfin tuna.

Miller Time: Andi Fleri brought in a 4.7 lb. mutton snapper and asked if she could get on the scale with the fish. The women caught yellowtail, king mackerel, jacks and enjoyed watching 5 sea turtles.

Tag Em: Everyone worked together to make sure each angler brought in a fish. They caught various snappers, amberjack, grouper. The captain and mate were rated as 'phenomenal!' Each had an opportunity to practice gaffing.

* Endangered Species/Capt. Eddie Hill: Both ladies caught their first bonefish ever, with Mary Trice winning the tournament. They learned how fast bonefish move and how difficult they are to see.

* Tails Up/Capt. Kerry Wingo: The women caught snapper, grouper, jacks and released a 19" snook. Ann Ptacek caught her first fish ever!

Lil Hooker/Capt. Todd McLean: The women had fun hooking snook, barracuda and jacks.

* Rodeo Ranger/Capt. George Clark: Their impressive list of fish caught or released included a tarpon, 2 snook, mangrove snappers and jacks.

* Back to Business/Capt. Brian Premaza: The top story was of a 150 lb. bull shark brought to the boat by Ilene Steinsnyder. The women caught trout, jacks and mangrove snappers.

* Bamboo/Capt. Matt Bellinger: The women caught trout, ladyfish, jacks and a triple tail and learned "to fish without husbands!"

* Capt. Zane Abury: Sharks, snook, snapper and trout made the day fun for the anglers.

Deep Green: The women caught 13 blackfin tuna and a mackerel.

* Laid Back/Capt. Brian Cutchins: There was a great story about how the captain went into the mangrove on his stomach to release a snook. The ladies caught a 13" mangrove snapper, a 15" trout and snook.

Miss Tradewinds: Participants caught grouper, grunts and an eel. They learned about conventional reels, how to untangle birds' nests, venting and baiting the hooks.

* Take the Ladies Fishing Sponsors

Recipe Contest Winner: Christine Gonclaves, for Smoked Fish Dip.

Want copies of your fish photos? Contact weeklyfisherman@aol.com, 305-924-3474 for availability and price.

Thanks to our Partners! Our valued sponsors help provide manpower, equipment for the skill stations and exciting products. This program would not be possible without their support! Special thanks to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Sport Fish Restoration, Mercury Outboards, Bass Pro Shops, Ranger Boats / Rowell's Marina, BoatU.S. Marine Insurance, Marine Industries Association of S. Florida, Lowrance Electronics, Magic Tilt Trailers and Gulfstream International Airlines for major sponsorships. Please patronize them! Annual partners: Accurate/Offshore Fishing, Minn Kota, Bob's Machine Shop, Maxima Line, Yo-Zuri, Eagle Claw, Hook & Tackle, Pompanette, Reel Native Florida Fishing, Treasure Cay Resort & Marina, The Islands of the Bahamas, Mary Kay, Benchmark Business Systems, Image Graphics 2000, Rugged Shark Shoes, Knarley Harley and Printing Corp. of the Americas. Class partners: King & Bartlett Sportfishing Int'l/Costa Rica, Calusa Cast Nets, Florida Keys & Key West, Silerstar, Penn, American Airlines, Stiffy Push Poles, Scientific Anglers, Shakespeare, Breezy Palms Resort, Butt Head Rod Butts, Morgan Stanley, Bacardi, Southern Wine and Spirits & Holiday Isle. Details are in the class book.

Join the LLGF Association and get $10 off your next registration! Log onto ladiesletsgofishing.com for the Chapter Forum, for announcements of chapter activities! Members receive newsletters with fishing tips, discounts, news on class participants, pen pals, member card, decal and more! Contact us for information on the chapters! Fill out the Association form in your class book and send to LLGF headquarters with credit card or check.

Thanks to our speakers: Capt. Skip Bradeen, Capt. Ray Rosher, Capt. Tadd Vandemark, Twig Tolle, Kim Amendola, Rich Abrams and Chuck Baldwin!

Special Thanks to Rowell's Marina and the Key Largo Guides Association for their tremendous assistance during the seminar! Be sure to visit Rowell's in Key Largo to look at their fabulous Ranger boats!

Great Prizes! We had some great prizes, including trips to King & Bartlett Sportfishing Int'l, Peace & Plenty Lodge,Treasure Cay Hotel Resort & Marina, Abaco, Bahamas, airfare from Gulfstream Int'l Airlines, Flamingo Lodge, Ocean Blue, Frigid Rigid cooler, Lowrance units, Matthews Jewelers, Minn Kota Trolling motor, Stiffy Push Pole, Goodyear Blimp ride, Hydra Glow Fish Light, Guy Harvey, Carey Chen & more, tackle boxes from Plano and Lurebox, American Airlines tickets, Shakespeare, Accurate Reels, Penn, Newell reel, Jewelry from L.J.L. Manufacturing, fishing trips with Captains Eddie Hill, Shane Vandemark, Chris Asaro, Ray Rosher, Travis Rolan, Tranquil Adventures and Brian Cutchins. Thanks to all auction and raffle donors! Your contributions help us meet growth demands.

Send Us Your Letters and Photos! We need new newsletter material - Please email comments if you bought tackle, boats, trucks, fishing equipment or if you have had an interesting fishing adventure. When you use the lures or fishing equipment you received at the seminar, please email to us the results!

Did you see the LLGF Gold Pendant? you can buy it on our website - $220 with diamond eye.

If Your Company is a Sponsor, You Attend Free!

We are looking for sponsors, door prize and goody bag donors for next year. If your company takes a sponsorship worth $500 or more, you get a comp entry and other benefits. Please contact us!

A Note on Conservation: Remember, it is up to you to insure there will be quality fishing tomorrow!

LLGF Seeks Utility Trailer: If you know of a company who is able to donate a covered trailer, please contact us!

Comments from Participants:

"I learned more in two days than I have since I started fishing!" - B. Ryncarz, Boynton Beach, FL

"I've had to rely on learning by watching. Now, I can enjoy fishing more." - P. Spahos, McDonough, G

"Anything he can do, I can do too." - S. Hempel, Weston, FL

"It's fun to learn without the pressure of someone it comes second nature to." - S. Miller, Naples, FL

"This is truly the best seminar for fishing. Sorry, Guys!" - D. Myers, West Palm Beach, FL

"I want to "Wow" my family and boyfriends!" - S. Sawyer, Key Largo, FL.

"Back a trailer the first time. Cool. The instructor was awesome!" - J. Warner, Cudjoe Key, FL

"I just liked it - it was well organized." B. Grady, Palmetto, FL

"The enthusiasm of the LLGF crew and the participants was terrific!" - S. Breda, Winston-Salem, NC

"Why do a women's night out, when you can have a great weekend learning to fish." B. Brachel, Grosse Isle, MI

"Even the best fisherlady could learn from this program." - S. Link, Winter Haven, FL

"The most important thing I learned about this course is, just to try." - W. Camp, Tequesta, FL

"I learned a lot that I would have not been able to understand without this seminar." - M. Matthews, Key Largo, FL