The fish were biting and the lines were flying as lady anglers hauled in 110 offshore fish during the 2025 Ladies Let’s Go Fishing Screamin’ Reels Tournament, held May 16-18 in the waters off Islamorada.
Hosted by the nonprofit Ladies Let’s Go Fishing Foundation, the event is more than just a tournament — it’s an open door for women and families to dive into the world of fishing, designed especially for beginners and those looking to level up their skills.
“Screamin’ Reels welcomes casual anglers into a fun and supportive tournament where nearly any legal offshore or inshore species is fair game,” said founder Betty Bauman. “It’s perfect for women who’ve never imagined entering a tournament.”
The weekend kicked off at the Tavernier Elks Club with a welcome party and a guest appearance by “Miami Vice” star and fishing aficionado Olivia Brown (a.k.a. Trudy). Out on the water, anglers landed mahi, wahoo, tuna, amberjack and more, and finished the tournament with an awards ceremony at Whale Harbor Marina in Islamorada.
In the offshore division, first-place winner Kat Farese of Dania Beach caught a 15.8-pound. wahoo on the Marlin Darlin boat. Second place went to Michelle Mobley, of Orlando, who reeled in a 12-pound blackfin tuna on the Sea Horse boat. Tavernier’s Kelly DeNone snagged a 10.8-pound wahoo aboard the Poppa Wahoo.
In the offshore jack division, Cocoa Beach’s Melissa Vickers caught a 30.1-pound amberjack to win first place.
