New anglers tackled offshore fishing skills at the South Florida \”Ladies, Let\’s Go Fishing!\” University, May 6-8 to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with learning and an offshore fishing experience. Hosted by the nonprofit organization, the “No Yelling School of Fishing” offered classroom presentations, networking, skill practice and an optional charter fishing trip at the VFW, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Some mothers brought their daughters or sons to learn and experience fishing as a family.

Activities launched Friday evening with a meet-and-greet. On Saturday, Captains Jeanne Towne and Lee Lavery presented Fishing Basics and Offshore Fishing Techniques. Betty Bauman presented information on conservation and fish release. Skill practice included knots, spooling reels, spin and net casting. On Sunday was an optional offshore charter fishing trip, followed by a filet demonstration. Anglers released sailfish, caught a 40 lb. amberjack and small bottom fish, a good result considering the west winds.

Featured on national network television and more, the series is supported by major partners including Recreational Fishing and Boating Foundation, Take Me Fishing, Vamos a Pescar, Mercury, Magic Tilt trailers, Shearwater Boats, Power-Pole, Penn, TACO Metals, Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida and Fish Florida. Largest Annual Sponsors are Freedom Boat Club, Lowrance, ICOM, CCA Florida STAR, Bob’s Machine Shop, AFTCO, Costa, Smith Optics, Frogg Toggs, Hubbards Marina, Star Brite and Future Angler Foundation. Largest donors and class-specific contributors are listed on the website.

Future 2022 LLGF events, with optional or included fishing are:

June 24-26 Keys Fishing Learning on the Water and Screamin’ Reels tourney Islamorada, FL

Sept. 23-24 Guy Harvey Outpost Bass Seminar & Tournament Camp Mack, Lake Wales, FL

Oct. 7-9 Keys Saltwater Seminar, fishing and Fishing Fever tourney Islamorada, FL

Nov. 19-20 St. Augustine Surf Fishing Academy

Additional: Several Virtual Meetings.

Fishing Reports, Sunday May 8, all boats fished out of Fishing Headquarters. With calm seas and west winds, all boats caught fish.

Big Game: Estelle Wolfman, Tampa, FL caught a 40 lb. amberjack using small bonito the other ladies had caught for bait. Everyone caught a fish. They learned how planers work, how to bridle live bait and more from Andrew, the mate. They enjoyed a visit from a Bahamian finch taking rest on the boat.

Reel Work: Robin Krueger, Parkland, FL released a 7 foot sailfish in 150 feet of water, her first ever, using a naked ballyhoo the mate netted during fishing. The fight lasted almost an hour. Anglers also released three yellowtail snapper from 10 to 13 inches, a 10 inch wrasse snapper and an 8 inch mangrove snapper caught in 15 ft. of water using bonito chunks and squid.

COB Too: Anglers caught a small tilefish, learned how to rig long lines and how to put live ballyhoo on a hook. They netted ballyhoo and hooked a sailfish but it slipped away.

Contact: LLGF, phone 954-475-9068, email: fish@ladiesletsgofishing.com, website: www.ladiesletsgofishing.com, Facebook: www.facebook.com/ladiesletsgofishing