It happens in a flash: The reel starts singing and the line drags out to sea in a whirring blur. "Fish on!" shouts Mike DiNapoli, first mate of My Other Honey, our chartered 42-foot Ocean Sport Fisherman. The rest of our all-female group leaps up, screaming, "Beth, it's your turn! You go, girl!"

Beth Walker, 29, a product manager from Delray Beach, Fla., is one of the most experienced anglers in our group, but also the smallest woman at 5 feet 5 inches and 104 pounds. From the way the invisible fish tries to jerk the rod out of her hands, you can see she has a real fight on her hands. But she's determined not to lose this fish, and you can see it on her face. She follows the fish back and forth across the cockpit, reeling carefully, while we snap pictures as if she's strutting down the red carpet at a Hollywood premiere. A few minutes later, another reel starts singing, and Mike hands me the rod. As a novice angler, it suddenly feels like I'm trying to pull a 500-pound lion out of the water - especially since my fighting belt keeps slipping down around my thighs. Mike does his best to tighten the belt several times, but it's not much help. It's just way too big.

Anna, Camille, Salima, Beth and Theresa put their
skills to the test and produce stellar results.

The mantra we learned at yesterday's seminar - "pump on the way up, reel on the way down" - keeps running through my head. At one point, our lines get tangled, and I have to duck under Beth to separate them. Mike patiently talks us through the catch, while the other girls shout words of encouragement. Ten minutes of fighting pass in an intense flash, delivering the most amazing rush. When I finally get the fish closer to the boat for Mike to gaff, I can't believe this modest 15-pound dolphin could feel so big and tough. But it's a thrill to have the fish struggle so hard, and then get it to give in. That's my reward.

Beth gets her payoff a few minutes later by landing a 20-pound dolphin - the biggest catch on our boat. "I was determined not to let it get away," she says later. "I feel exhilarated that I could land a fish this size without any help. It's a real sense of accomplishment."

This is a common feeling for many women at the end of a "Ladies, Let's Go Fishing" weekend seminar. Betty Bauman founded the seminar a decade ago as the "No-Yelling School of Fishing." "I wanted to learn how to fish, but my husband was either too busy or too impatient to teach me," Betty says. "At the time, there was no venue that combined theoretical classes and hands-on experience in a no-pressure, no-yelling environment." Ten years later, more than 4,500 women have participated in LLGF seminars in Florida, Colorado, Alaska and Costa Rica, fishing for different species depending on the location.

Betty says women from all walks of life attend her fishing seminars. "We get nurses, homemakers, CEOs and teachers," says Betty. "Our goal is to provide a complete fishing experience where women can take the time to learn the basics or fine-tune their skills." The reasons for attending vary from person to person. Among our boat's group is Beth, who says she wants to be a "better angler." She usually fishes with a friend off Cocoa Beach, Fla., but feels the need to learn how to bait the hook and gaff a fish. Beth's friend, Theresa McDonald, 24, has the desire to be a more active participant at her boyfriend Hunter's family gatherings. "Hunter's dad owns a boat dealership in Miami, and they both participate in tournaments all the time," Theresa says. "You have to keep up, you know." Theresa also doesn't want to rely on Hunter when they go fishing. "He took me out fishing recently and was nice overall, but I could feel him getting impatient and frustrated at times," says Theresa. "I guess I wasn't walking the dog."

Anna Haynes, 25, has never caught a fish, and wants to learn some basic skills. The fourth-grade teacher came with her sister, Camille Ciufo, 28, who's an experienced angler with a different agenda.

"I want to show the boys up," she says, referring to her dad, three brothers and boyfriend. "I out-fish my boyfriend most of the time, but I want to learn the basics of knot tying, bait rigging and gaffing. I want to do more things on my own rather than having to rely on him."

Women from all walks of life gather at Pirate Cove Marina
for three days of bonding, hands-on fishing fun and boater education.

As for myself, I have worked in public relations and marketing for a number of boat companies and have enjoyed a few fishing trips in the past, but now I want to gain more fishing skills.

Day One

The 60 women, ranging from ages 20 to 77, all seem to have various stories for being at the seminar's opening Friday night party at Pirate Cove Marina in Stuart, Fla. Donna Maness of Vero Beach, Fla., couldn't think of a better way to celebrate her 48th birthday. "I e-mailed all my friends and was able to gather four gals for the event," says Donna. "I've been fishing all my life and had the world's best teacher - my dad - so this is exciting."

Donna Wigdahl, 77, is the oldest member of the group. "I've lived a great life and have always enjoyed fishing," she says. "When my husband died, I moved to Stuart and bought a Boston Whaler. I took classes so I could pilot the vessel, and I do a pretty good job." Her boat-handling teacher, Capt. Joan Antolik, 52, is also at the seminar. "I've been fishing for a long time, but that doesn't mean I know how to do it right," says Joan. "You can always learn something from new people."

Beth Walker, left, fights the day's biggest catch, a 20-pound dolphin;
Camille closes in on a catch

"That's a laugh," says Donna. "After Joan taught me to drive the boat, we became friends and used to go out fishing."

The Friday welcome party is a fun affair, with a raffle and a live silent auction. The proceeds allow all of us to start a collection of fishing equipment and help defray the cost of the seminar, which is already only $135 per person. Our group hits it off immediately, and as the night goes on, we develop a strong sense of camaraderie. The evening's highlight comes when Betty and her "Sailfish Dancers" - LLGF volunteers - jump on stage and start singing and dancing to their own lyrics of the classic song, Dancing in the Street:

"Come on, ladies, grab a reel And show a friend How good it feels to be fishing, Fishing in the sea ... "

Most of us cheer, sing and dance along, looking forward to the next morning's classes and training sessions.

LLGF Founder Betty Bauman teaches the ladies how to fight the
fish using the mantra "pump on the way up, reel on the way down."

Day Two

Saturday morning starts with a presentation by Michelle Owen, an environmental specialist at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The state agency is LLGF's largest sponsor, so their message of marine conservation is emphasized throughout the weekend. After that, there are sessions for beginners and advanced participants in Fishing Basics, Offshore Fishing, Inshore Fishing, and Bottom Fishing.

"I've learned a lot, but found myself a little lost because I'm not familiar with the vocabulary," says Anna, the newbie of our group. While her more-experienced sister Camille and mother, Susan, clarify some technical terms, Anna's brain goes into overload. "It's a lot of information to acquire in one day," Anna adds.

During Saturday morning's seminars, guest speaker
Capt. Dusty Walker demonstrates the proper way to gaff a fish.

The conservation message is laced with practical tips: Handle fish properly because their organs might collapse out of the water, practice "catch and release" to maintain healthy fish stocks, and my favorite, "Don't reel against the drag!" We put theory into practice all afternoon at the 15 skill stations, which include boat handling, casting, knot-tying, gaffing, de-hooking and releasing, among others. Anna is clearly more enthusiastic about the hands-on experience. "I'm able to use a de-hooker, a tool that allows you to release the fish properly without even touching it," she says, gushing. "It's great." Meanwhile, Camille zeroes in on more advanced skills. "I went right to the Bayhoo rigging, because that rig is used in our area for sailfish, dolphin and wahoo," she says. "I also learned the importance of gaffing the fish near the head for a successful catch."

Day Three

On Sunday morning, we all meet up at the marina at 7 a.m. - a fairly painful commitment since none of us are early risers, but the very idea of being able to put our newfound skills to the test amplifies the overall energy level.

After about an hour aboard My Other Honey, trolling about 10 miles offshore in 3- to 5-foot seas, we get our first treat of the day - a school of dolphins. The sight of these beautiful mammals jumping and cavorting in the ocean brings us out of our morning daze, and we get so excited that we start screaming like a group of teens at a Justin Timberlake concert. But then there's the waiting. We quickly learn that patience is a virtue on a fishing boat and scan the horizon with Capt. Pete Morello, looking for sea grass or birds - any indications of baitfish.

The ladies get a headstart early Sunday morning
and embark on their final day of offshore fishing.

Forty-five minutes later, we get our first strike. Camille dons her belt and fights what turns out to be a 10-pound dolphin. It's a small fish, but it gives her a run for her money, pulling her back and forth across the cockpit. She remains methodical and focused, pumping and reeling until she gets it to the side. "All I can think about is to keep the line tight because I'm not going to lose it," she says. "No matter what, this fish is going to end up in the box."

Half an hour later, Beth and I catch our two dolphins. "I feel so accomplished," Beth says. "I feel like I could do just about anything." ... Except deal with the fish slime, of course. After the photo-op where she's holding the 20-pounder, she doesn't know where to wipe her hands. She looks at them - kind of disgusted - and then smells them: "Yuck!" Mike turns his back chivalrously and offers his worn-out, hole-filled, multistained T-shirt. "Here, this is what it's here for," he says.

First mate Mike DiNapoli shows Camille
Ciufo how to ungaff her 10-pound dolphin.

While waiting for fish, Mike shows us how to rig the bait, adjust the drag, tie knots and generally hone our skills. Theresa almost catches a sailfish, but it gets away. She then asks Mike if there's a way to differentiate male and female sailfish. "They're probably all female if you ask me," he jokes. "You can't be too shy or too aggressive - otherwise they'll get away." Another captain later says they're probably male because they're "so darn stubborn." Then comes Anna's turn. We haven't caught anything for a while, so Mike drops the line down to 40 feet in the water. When the line starts dragging, Anna demonstrates what she's learned, pumping and reeling, letting it run until she has caught an 8-pound kingfish. "I was nervous about catching it," she says. "But it came in pretty easily."

At the end of the day, every boat in the LLGF seminar catches a fish, and everyone agrees the best part of the weekend is the offshore trip. Our group is already making plans for future outings. Theresa says her boyfriend, Hunter, has already invited her fishing. "He's taking me out on his boat so I can show him everything I've learned," she says. "He's going to be impressed."

The ladies show off their prizes after
an exhilirating fishing experience.

"My dad and brothers are proud of me for doing this," says Anna. "I've already taught them not to handle a fish because doing so can damage it, and when reeling they should be sure to use their hips and not their arms. It's all in the hips. I want to catch more fish - preferably a sailfish, so I can put up a good fight." And Anna has another interesting idea in mind, an idea that would make every woman in the LLGF seminar smile in appreciation. She says, "Now, I have to get my husband into fishing."

Conservation Class

The Saturday session of “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing” begins with a presentation by Michelle Owen, an environmental specialist at the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). As LLGF’s lead sponsor, the state agency’s conservation message is a leading theme of the weekend seminar. Owen highlights this point in her presentation, emphasizing the importance of “catch and release,” protection of marine habitats, and knowing fishing regulations.

The LLGF sponsorship is just one of 35 venues the FWC uses to spread its conservation message. “ We try to reach kids as they begin fishing through our Kid’s Fishing Clinics. For the same reason, we’re involved in the ‘Ladies Let’s Go Fishing’ events,” says Danny Riley, environmental administrator at the FWC. “Our thought is to teach those entering the sport of fishing about the conservation of fisheries and their essential habitats, in hopes that they will become responsible stewards of these invaluable marine resources.”

Through its Outreach and Education program, the FWC is attempting to change a common misconception: that the seas are an endless supply of fish. The reality is that marine resources are being exhausted at an alarming rate due the increasing number of anglers in the state and the technological advances that render those resources even more vulnerable. “The fishing industry in Florida generates approximately $7 billion dollars per year,” says Riley. “Those resources must be managed properly to ensure the continuation of the economic benefits to the state and to meet our moral obligation as responsible people to protect our environment. Each angler must do his or her part to protect the fisheries."

Conservation ethics pervade the LLGF seminar, from the FWC Saturday morning presentation to the afternoon fishing clinics at which FWC environmental specialists teach effective catch-and-release techniques. At the end of each LLGF event, women complete a simple six-question survey, which allows the FWC to determine whether or not their key conservation points were successfully conveyed. 

“Based on anecdotal evidence and our surveys, women attending LLGF events and seminars are very receptive to the need to conserve,” says Riley. “They seem to be interested and motivated to do their part for resource conservation.”

Riley adds that the agency is designing a number of other programs to “spread the word on conservation ethics” to anglers across the spectrum, for the well-being of both fish stocks and the anglers who enjoy harvesting their bountiful fruit.

Upcoming Events

Interested in attending a LLGF seminar?
Here’s when you can catch an upcoming event:

Seminar Calendar
May 16-18    Stuart, FL
Sept. 19-21    Islamorada, FL
October (TBA)    St. Petersburg, Gulf Coast, FL

Special Event
Aug. 27-30    Alaska

For more information on upcoming events, contact Betty Bauman and her team at (954) 475-9068, or visit www.ladiesletsgofishing.com.