Spearfishing tourney raises $$$ for Womankind
It’s going to be good weather this year, so I am expecting our biggest year ever,” said That’s What She Shot founder Lea Moeller. “The spearfishing community is so awesome, they have taught me so much.”
That’s What She Shot, taking place June 10-12, is in its fifth year raising funds for Womankind, a local medical center providing family planning and primary health care to people of all income levels. About $20,000 has been raised to help offset grant money lost for mammograms in the community. “Without this money, the program would have ended. Without Womankind, our community would be a different place,” said Moeller, who now sits on the board of directors of the nonprofit.
Last year, 70 shooters came out to participate in the event, Moeller said there could be up to 150 this year. When she started the tournament, she planned on doing a one-time fish party with 20 of her spearing friends. Since then the event has grown and grown. “It doubles in size and money raised each year,” she said.
Traditionally, the event has been a weigh-the-biggest-fish-in-three-categories event. This year, she, with suggestions of past participants, decided on an aggregate tournament that covers a variety of fish from five categories: grouper, snapper, hog, amberjack and pelagic. Shooters can weigh one of each of the five fish for points. “This could all change at the captains’ meeting,” she said. “I’m pretty flexible.”
Moeller and her twin speara sister Jenna have been shooting fish since they were kids, and both embody the Keys persona — chilled, laidback, and go with the flow. A reason Lea likes spearos so much. “The people who do this tournament are just so cool and amazing,” she said.
Local spearos who will be gracing the tournament again include names like Key Westers AJ Halley, Johnny B. and Cole Harrison, a couple people are also flying in from Hawaii for the tournament, and South Florida is always well represented with shooters coming from Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa for the event. Moeller went to this year’s Blue Wild event and racked up more great prizes and was able to spread the word about the tournament even more.
There will be categories for men and women, free diving and tank, overall lionfish, and a junior’s division. “We might even add a calcutta this year at the captains’ meeting,” she said.
Things that haven’t changed: awesome shirts and tank tops, collectable trophy beer mugs, and the sight of some of the biggest local fish being weighed in Sunday afternoon at Hurricane Hole Marina.
Tournament Details
Captain’s Meeting:
Friday, June 10 at 7 p.m. at Hurricane Hole.
$75 pre-registration/$85 at meeting
$10 discount to students and military
To pre-register: email thatswhatsheshot@gmail.com
thatswhatsheshot.com
Weigh In:
Open to everyone – raffles and silent auction
Sunday, June 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hurricane Hole
Weigh-in from 4 to 5:30 p.m. sharp
Music by Miguel Perez
