Class News: Stuart, April 11-13, 03

STUART Event - Another great success!

We were pleased to have one of our most enthusiastic crowds and committees ever at our Stuart seminar. We thank Pirates Cove Resort and Marina for providing such an excellent location!

LLGF Fishing Report : 4/13/2003

Infinity: The ladies caught three kingfish, a bonita and a boat. Catching the boat was Joan Tomich, Palm City, FL, who crossed her line with another boat and pulled in their line as well as their fish.

Big Katuna: Lela Kadivar, Ft. Pierce, FL caught a 20 lb. cobia and Betty Gasse, Hobe Sound, FL caught a 15 lb. cobia after the boat had followed two large turtles which were mating. The ladies also learned to rig a squid. Comment of the day was: "Finding horny turtles is a must to catching cobia!"

Hobo: Donna Carlson, Jupiter, FL caught a dolphin, Maritza Cuebas, Miami, FL caught a bonita and kingfish were caught by Betty Butzko; Stuart, FL, Shawn Wisehaupt, Jupiter, FL & Imke Mayer, Stuart.

Mustache Man: Capt. Jim Brogan greeted the women with flowers. The day continued with learning how to catch baitfish, rig ballyhoo and tie knots. Lisa Grago, Port St. Lucie, caught the first dolphin of her life, and credited Leslie Leighton, Royersford, PA because Leslie had worn her lucky dolphin shirt. Bonita were caught by Catherine Fisher and Anita Salas, both of Stuart, FL. Luann McCormick, St. Petersburg, FL caught her first fish ever, a lizard fish, which she described as 'disgusting.'

Uncle T: Diane Farmer, Palm Bay, FL was the lucky angler, catching dolphin and bonita. The ladies learned how to fillet fish while on the boat.

*Capt. Wayne Magdalena: Melanie Borkowski of Hobe Sound, FL and Joyce Losquadro, Jupiter, FL were busy learning techniques and catching fish on the river all morning. They caught 12 and 10 pound jack cravelles on light tackle as well as ladyfish and sail cats.

*John Davis: A mother/daughter team, Sue Funk, St. Petersburg, FL and Sally Funk, Apopka, FL caught a trout, a flounder and a jack cravelle.

*Cher D'Loot/Capt. George Mittler: The women caught a "loot" of fish, including 2 small dolphin and 3 amberjacks. They learned how to catch bait fish with sabiki rigs and had the excitement of jumping off a sailfish. "Ohhh, this is hard!" was the quote of the day.

The Good Tern/Capt. Dick Reed. Kathy Kent, Hobe Sound, FL and Leslie Corcoran, Stuart, FL caught blue runners and snappers.

Capt. Greg Scherer: Two sisters, Vicky Cochran, Lakeland, FL and Lynn Delgado, Lake City, FL caught and/or released 20 snook, a sheepshead, two mangrove snappers, a black drum, a flounder and more. Lynne Delgado caught her first snook and sheepshead ever. They fished on the St. Lucie River.

Capt. Mike Holliday: Sunny Gates, Ft. Pierce, FL caught and/or released eleven snook, trout and blue runners in the flats off of Sailfish Point.

*Gotcha/Capt. Marcia Foosaner: A trout was the first fish Joyce Nelson, Coconut Grove, FL ever caught on a lure. Despite making a bird's nest with her fishing line, Sally Van Shoick, Stuart, FL caught four trout.

Safari I - Frances Bridges, Brandon, FL kissed and released a banded rudderfish because it was too large to keep, commenting, "I have never seen so many tangled lines!" Joan Adler, Port St. Lucie, FL released her first fish ever, a 25 in. banded rudderfish. Michelle Monte, Stuart, FL said she 'wiped out 3/4 of the lines hanging from the starboard side of the boat on her first cast.' Then, she released two 27-inch banded rudderfish and kept two legal ones, reporting, "I had a great time fighting these sporty fish, even though two of them peed on my legs."

Recipe Contest Winners: Kathy Kent, Hobe Sound, FL took first place for "Greek Fish" and Catherine Fisher, Stuart, FL took second with "Maple Glazed Salmon."

* Take the Ladies Fishing Sponsors

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 /Anchor's Aweigh, BoatU.S. Marine Insurance, Marine Industries Association of S. Florida, Lowrance Electronics, Magic Tilt Trailers, IGFA 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, Silverstar Jewelers, Pompanette, Reel Native Florida Fishing, Treasure Cay Resort & Marina, The Islands of the Bahamas, Mary Kay, Benchmark Business Systems, Image Graphics 2000, West Coast Nets, Rugged Shark Shoes, Saltwater Fly Fishing and Printing Corp. of the Americas. Class partners: Penn/Casting, Bev Smith Ford, Lewis Marine Supply of Stuart, Satcom Direct, Bacardi, Fish Tales Bait & Tackle, Florida Fillet Tables, Royal Robbins, Knarley Harley Art Designs & Dolphin Jewelers. 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 Stuart/Ft. Pierce Chapter! Fill out the Association form in your class book and send to LLGF headquarters with credit card or check.

Thanks to our speakers: Jason Schratwieser, Capt. Marcia Foosaner, Capt. Peter Wright and Jerry McBride!

Great Prizes! We had some great prizes, including trips to Treasure Cay Hotel Resort & Marina and Banyan Beach Club/Abaco, Bahamas, airfare from Gulfstream Int'l Airlines, a trip to Rio Colorado Lodge, Costa Rica, a Minn Kota trolling motor, art from Ross Art, Pasta Pantaleo, Knarley Harley, Guy Harvey, Carey Chen & more, tackle boxes from Plano and Lurebox, Penn tackle, Accurate Reels, Jewelry from Dolphin Jewelers and Midlantic Gold Rush, fishing trips with Captains Marcia Foosaner, Uncle T, Boneshaker, Capt. Tadd Vandemark, Capt. Holly Smith, Rufus Wakeman/River Palm Cottages, Infinity, Capt. Paul Strauss, Capt. Mike Peppe and more. Thanks to all auction and raffle donors! Your contributions help us meet growth demands.

Next Events: St. Petersburg/Bradenton TBA, Islamorada Oct. 17-19 (great time) at Holiday Isle

Send Us Your Letters and Photos! We need new newsletter material - Please email comments about the seminar, especially 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!

If you weren't lucky enough to get the Silverstar 14K gold pendant on display on the Silent Auction, you can buy it from us - $220 with diamond eye, $190 without diamond.

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!

Lowrance has a great website that explains the basics of marine electronics at www.lowrance.com . You can also download a simulator where you can practice how to use a Lowrance on your computer!

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!

Welcome, Ranger Boats , as the Official Boat of Choice for LLGF! Visit www.rangerboats.com .

Remember how important you can be in preserving our marine resources for the future!

Satcom Direct: If you didn't have the chance to try the satellite phones, please check out satcomdirect.com.

Special Thanks to Bev Smith Ford for providing an exciting selection of trucks!

Comments from Participants:

"I loved this seminar - It's excellent and builds confidence - Thank you!" - Diann McDonough, Port St. Lucie, FL

"Everyone was pleasant and I would do it again!" - Miriam Kuster, Hobe Sound, FL

"All of the speakers were excellent - I look forward to returning next year!" - Donna Deakins, Stuart, FL

"It's a great informational, social and learning experience!" Diana Nyman, West Palm Beach, FL

"It's amazing to see the numbers of women who want to learn fishing!" - Donna Carlson, Jupiter, FL

"Excellent! You will want to take the course more than once!" - Joan Adler, Port St. Lucie, FL

"Well done! - I can't believe how much I learned in one day!" - Becky Bixby, Hobe Sound, FL

"Living in Florida is boating and fishing!" - Elaine Kwan, Hobe Sound, FL