From the looks of things, it is obvious that women are becoming more and more involved in all aspects of fishing. Tournament fishing, which previously belonged to the men, has now opened up opportunities for women to compete with each other as well as against the men in both freshwater and saltwater for both inshore and offshore events. Young women who were introduced to fishing by grandfathers, dads, brothers and uncles are becoming more active in the sport as anglers, captains, fishing guides and tournament competitors. We recently spoke with a few of our top lady anglers in the area about their reasons for being involved in Florida’s number one outdoor sport.
CAPTAIN KRISTA “REDFISH” TUCKER
Krista Tucker was introduced to fishing before she can even remember. Her mom and her uncle were taking her fishing when she was still in diapers and it was just a way of life for her. Tucker learned to tie a clinch knot before she could even tie her shoes. She grew up catching Bass, Snook, and Tarpon in the Everglades in Chokoloskee and the Ten Thousand Islands, but really fell in love with the sport when she moved to Charlotte Harbor. She was on the boat every chance she got and just couldn’t get enough. At 18 years old, she got her Captains license following the inspiration that fishing was her calling. Tucker loves the competitive side of fishing and credits her dad with instilling that drive to succeed in her by not allowing her to beat him easily at childhood board games. She was good at fishing and while others in high school were medaling in Track & Field and Softball, she was entering Xtreme Redfish tournaments and fishing the Flatmasters Redfish series. Tucker’s favorite fish to target is Redfish. At first it was the hardest fish for her to figure out and now she feels like she is one with them, hence the adopted middle name. While she pre-fished for upcoming tournaments, she would often just go out and watch, not casting a line, just watching what the tide was doing, paying attention to where the fish were, and when the water started moving, she would see where the fish would go. She noticed that the fish had a route they’d follow every day and at nearly the same time every year, the school would come back to the same spot at nearly the same time. She studied their interesting habits for countless hours and really has a true appreciation for them. Tucker says, “they are a gorgeous fish to catch and I love the fight of a nice bull.” She also enjoys the reward of being able to do so.
CAPTAIN LORI DEATON
Capt Lori Deaton, a longtime lady angler, was always quite the tomboy growing up and enjoyed just about any outdoor activity, but the very first time she cast her line and hooked a Snook, she knew she was born to fish. Deaton says that fishing and being on the water brings her peace and provides relaxation, even when she is catching Tarpon! Tarpon are known as the Silver King to many who appreciate their beautiful silver color, their powerful fighting spirit and their dominance as the King of all sport fish. “I love everything about them, says Deaton. I think they are the most amazing creatures on earth and I live to catch them.” When Deaton is not catching tarpon, she is raising money for her charity fishing tournament, Hooked on Hope, which she established to fight breast cancer. Because Deaton has seen more women enjoying the sport of fishing over the years, she thought it would be a great idea to combine their love of fishing with a cause close to her heart. Although the tournament has many male anglers who support her registered non-profit foundation, there are a lot of teams that consist of lady anglers who wear pink wigs, have pink fishing rods and dress all in pink for the occasion which takes place in early October every year. Her tournament also invites cancer survivors and those battling the disease to the event for a day of pampering. Deaton is not only a lady angler and a licensed fishing Captain, but she has a heart of gold that is obvious from the moment you meet her. Deaton welcomes young women and girls into the sport and says that the fishing industry has much more to offer now than it did when she got her start. “Your options are endless” she says.
ALYSHA ARATARI
Alysha Aratari started fishing at just five years old, when her dad entered her in a tournament. She was so upset that she had not caught anything all day until the last minute when she hooked up and caught her first fish. She fell in love with fishing from that moment on and has fished ever since. Aratari says there is something about being in the outdoors with the sun beating down, the song of the whistling fishing line in the wind and the fight for the fish on the other end of a pole that she loves about fishing. Like others, Aratari says that fishing is therapeutic for her and that she is most at peace in the tranquil quietness on the water.
Aratari loves being an angler and encourages other lady anglers not to be intimidated by the once male dominated sport. “Women in fishing is on the rise,” she says. Aratari is passionate about Tarpon fishing. She loves to compete and also fishes recreationally for the explosive sport fish any chance she gets. “There is nothing like it to me, she says with a smile, for anyone who has experienced the thrill of tarpon fishing, you know exactly what I’m talking about!”
MELISSA TRAMONTANA
For Melissa Tramontana, fishing is an adrenaline rush. The excitement of not knowing what is lurking on the other end of your rod is what keeps her on the water every chance she gets. For Tramontana, fishing has always been a family affair. She grew up in a home on a lake fishing for Bass almost every day with her two older brothers. As they got older, they discovered the fish were a lot bigger in salt water and the trio never looked back. Learning everything she could from her brothers, who always let her tag along, she fishes with them often and even mates for her older brother who is a licensed Charter Guide. Her love of the sport is tied to the many good memories she has made through fishing and she wouldn’t trade them for the world. Growing up in a fishing and hunting family, Tramontana loves to cook her catch and enjoys a fresh fillet of fish on her plate after a good day on the water. Tramontana fishes competitively in both inshore and offshore tournaments where Grouper usually becomes the main course afterwards. She tells friends how spoiled she is knowing there’s always fresh fish in her house. Despite her love of a fresh catch, her favorite fish to tangle with is definitely the Tarpon. “They fight hard and jump high which makes it an adrenaline rush as well as a workout “, she says. “It always makes me feel like I have accomplished something when I can get one of the Silver Kings to the boat.” Tramontana looks forward to targeting other sport fish on her “list” and hopes to continue pursuing different species she has yet to land. Tramontana, at 23, hunts, fishes and scuba dives passionately. She encourages other women not to be afraid to get into the sport. “Everyone I know thinks it’s awesome when I tell them that I fish, and more often than not, I out-fish the guys,” she jokes. Fishing is definitely a big part of her life spending much of her down time on the water and providing her family with an activity to enjoy together.
MELISSA BLAKEY
Lady Angler Melissa Blakey not only loves to fish, she is also a graduate with a degree in Environmental Science and cares about the future of fishing and the preservation of wildlife. When on the water, she learns something new and amazing on every trip. “I love the different species of fish, birds, aquatic vegetation, mammals and reptiles”, she says. “I want future generations to be able to enjoy the pristine Florida outdoors as I have been able to do.” Blakey is also a competitive tournament angler. Always hooking more fish than most of the guys on her boat, she believes that woman have more patience and better instincts so they are naturally better anglers. Blakey fishes almost every week and supports the DNA research being done for the tarpon fishery. Collecting several samples already this season from fish she has landed, she has provided them to the Florida Wildlife Commission for their Tarpon studies, a science of great interest to her.
Growing up a tomboy but still a Daddy’s girl, Blakey spent her childhood camping and Bream fishing on the Hillsborough River from her dad’s jon boat. She always loved just being on the water. She had never been exposed to saltwater fishing until five years ago when she met a young Captain who took her flats fishing for the first time and she was hooked. She seemed to have a knack for it and her ease at casting and hooking fish seemed to come naturally. She learned as much as she could and fished every opportunity she had. After eluding her on several attempts, the Snook has become her favorite fish to catch. Casting in the perfect spot in the Mangroves where they lay is challenging and when she gets one to chase her bait, it’s very rewarding. “I love to watch them jump” Blakey says. She adds that fishing has been a predominantly male sport, but women will find it to be relaxing, enjoyable and exciting and she hopes that more women will venture into the sport.
ALYSHA LANDRY
Hanging out at small freshwater lakes when she was still in a stroller, lady angler Alysha Landry was introduced to fishing by her uncle who would take her along as he passionately fished for hours. Landry says the complete tranquility she feels when she has rod and reel in hand is her favorite part of fishing. Being relaxed yet getting an intense work out from a giant Tarpon, which is her favorite fish to catch, is an adrenaline rush. “Tarpon are gorgeous,
prehistoric fish that put up a fight like you wouldn’t believe!” says Landry. “Guys are always so shocked when girls reel in a 200 pound fish by themselves.” Landry hopes that other young women will give fishing a try because the second they hook their first fish, they are hooked for life! The outdoor sport of fishing is amazing and she encourages women to get out there and learn all they can. Landry lives near the water and fishes for many types of fish that reside in her area. She is also a competitive angler and has made many great friends in tournament competition.
CAPTAIN JILL SAPP
Growing up in Ormond Beach, Captain Jill Sapp’s Grandpa and Uncle started her fishing and blue crabbing for fun when she was just seven years old. Since they didn’t have a boat, they fished in the surf, from bridges, on piers or from the shoreline. She has been in love with fishing ever since. She credits her husband, Captain Troy Sapp with teaching her everything she knows about the kind of fishing they do together today. Sapp says she would never be able to do any of it without him. “I have been fortunate to fish from the Panhandle to the Florida Keys on all types of tackle to see firsthand what outstanding fishing opportunities Florida has to offer.” Sapp is most at home in the outdoors, whether she is on the water or in the woods. An avid hunter and angler, she loves everything about the sport. Sapp says her favorite fish is whatever is biting, but she really enjoys Snook fishing and sport fishing for Tarpon and Billfish because of their beauty and power. Sapp, who is an accomplished angler, is also well informed and knowledgeable about Florida fishing laws, regulations and pending issues. Her words of wisdom for young women who are interested in the sport is to “watch, listen and learn all you can. Ask experienced anglers for advice, attend outdoor expos, read some of the many fishing books and magazines and tune in to various fishing shows for information. Most importantly, know the laws! Know the legal size, quantity, season and take limits for each species of fish or any game you plan to harvest.” Sapp stays informed on all state fish and game regulations and issues through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Florida Wildlife Commission websites and often attends hearing meetings. Sapp is adamant about taking care of our precious resources for future generations and advises everyone to educate themselves about the sport.
SO MOVE OVER FELLAS, THE GIRLS OF SUMMER ARE HERE TO STAY!
Important caring male figures were key factors in introducing the sport of fishing to all our featured lady anglers at a young age. The benefits to exposing young girls to outdoor sports such as fishing and hunting are many. Accomplishing anything builds self-esteem. Fishing is a sport that allows multiple repeated success with each catch. A feeling of confidence in the ability to use tools such as rod and reel, firearm or bow to become successful at the sport starts with being comfortable using them. Women are not only becoming more prominent in the sport as successful competitors, anglers and business women today but are often more compassionate about the conservation of wildlife and the environments which create stability for future generations. Won’t it be great when our daughters are being taught the techniques of fishing and hunting and an appreciation for the outdoors not only by their dads, brothers and uncles but by their moms, sisters and aunts as well!
Sheila Tramontana is a photographer and outdoor enthusiast who is a native Floridian. Introduced to fishing by a long heritage of family who enjoyed the sport, it was one of her favorite outdoor activities as a child. Sheila now photographs professional fishing tournaments, as well as other outdoor sports and her portfolio contains Florida scenery and wildlife photography for home and office. For more information, you can visit her website at www.sheilatphotography.com or find her on Facebook and Pinterest.
