Women Turn Fishing Lessons Into Winning Catches at the Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing! Keys University

TAVERNIER, Florida Keys (Oct. 28, 2026) — Takoda Ott of Fort Myers, Fla., came to the Florida Keys to learn how to fish. Ott went home with a first sailfish release and a tournament award.

Ott was one of the women from Florida and beyond who hooked 85 fish aboard seven boats at the award-winning Ladies, Let's Go Fishing! Keys University and Fishing Fever Tournament, held Oct. 16-18 at the Elks Lodge in Tavernier, near Islamorada. The three-day event pairs a day of classroom instruction with guided trips inshore and offshore.

Ott's sailfish, released aboard Poppa Wahoo, earned Top Offshore Release. The same boat produced the offshore winner, a 10.4-pound kingfish caught by Mary Ann Dineen of Fort Myers, and the third-place fish, a 10.1-pound mutton snapper from Jane Koppenaal of Key West. Anna Tassia Butler of Islamorada took second with a 10.1-pound blackfin tuna aboard Sea Horse.

Inshore, Blackwater Charters took all three places. Zaida Diaz of Miami won with a 20-inch ladyfish and Ana Bardales of Miami took second with a 19.5-inch sea trout, both fishing with Capt. Eric Scoble. Pat Kucera of Clearwater, Fla., finished third with an 18-inch jack crevalle alongside Capt. Dylan Scoble.

"Almost every fish in the sea counts in the Fishing Fever competition," said Betty Bauman, founder of Ladies, Let's Go Fishing! "It's a fun way for beginners and casual anglers to learn, build confidence and have a chance to bring home a prize."

The weekend opened with a meet-and-greet. Saturday's class put rods in hands. Participants tied knots, rigged bait, threw cast nets and worked spinning and fly rods. They practiced releasing fish. They practiced gaffing on grapefruits. Capt. Lee Lavery taught fishing basics, Capt. Jeanne Towne covered offshore techniques and Capt. Rob Modys handled inshore fishing. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission led the conservation session. A second networking gathering followed at the Islamorada Shrimp Shack.

On the water Friday and Sunday, professional captains and guides put the lessons to the test. The fleet brought in sailfish, mahi-mahi, blackfin tuna, mutton snapper, kingfish, cero mackerel, amberjack, yellowtail snapper, seatrout, and mangrove snapper.

Fishing Fever Tournament winners:

First Place Offshore: Mary Ann Dineen, Fort Myers, Fla. - 10.4 lb. kingfish aboard Poppa Wahoo.
Second Place Offshore: Anna Tassia Butler, Islamorada, Fla. - 10.1 lb. blackfin tuna aboard Sea Horse.
Third Place Offshore: Jane Koppenaal, Key West, Fla. - 10.1 lb. mutton snapper aboard Poppa Wahoo.
Top Offshore Release: Takoda Ott, Fort Myers, Fla. - sailfish released aboard Poppa Wahoo.
First Place Inshore: Zaida Diaz, Miami - 20-inch ladyfish with Blackwater Charters, Capt. Eric Scoble.
Second Place Inshore: Ana Bardales, Miami - 19.5-inch sea trout with Blackwater Charters, Capt. Eric Scoble.
Third Place Inshore: Pat Kucera, Clearwater, Fla. - 18-inch jack crevalle with Blackwater Charters, Capt. Dylan Scoble.

Sponsors and supporters include Mercury, Magic Tilt Trailers, Power-Pole, Penn and Fish Florida. Largest annual sponsors are Lowrance, ICOM, Bob's Machine Shop, AFTCO, Smith Optics, Frogg Toggs, Hubbards Marina, Seaguar, Flying Fisherman, Pelagic Gear, Engel, Yeti, Vudu, CCA Florida STAR, Flamingo Lodge and Star Brite. Local sponsors are Sunset Inn and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.

Ladies, Let's Go Fishing! returns to the Florida Keys for the Islamorada Women's Sailfish Tournament, Feb. 5-7, 2027, followed by the Screamin' Reels Fun Fishing Tournament, May 14-16, 2027, and the next Keys University and Fishing Fever Tournament, Oct. 1-3, 2027.

Find more information at ladiesletsgofishing.com.

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