“The Year of the Lady Angler”
The ladies stole the spotlight at the 2013 Bisbee’s Black & Blue Marlin Tournament (Los Cabos). Top awards went to two female anglers. Linda Williams and her crew aboard II Success captured first place overall team, the overall tournament jackpot, top captain award and daily jackpots up to the $2,000 level after boating a 774-pound blue marlin. Yes, you read that right…774 pounds! Not only was the fish the biggest of the tournament week it was the largest ever weighed by a lady angler in the 33-year history of the tournament. It earned a payout of $368,675 out of the $2.9 million in overall prize money available.
Martha McNabb and her Retriever team received the largest overall payout for the event. Her 525-pound blue marlin was worth $1,185,862. Retriever won second place overall, second place jackpot, top captain honors for Tony Araiza and daily jackpots for the first two days since no qualifiers were weighed on the first day.
On the other side of the continent, IWFA members Carmen Perez-Padron (Miami, FL) and Linda Denkert (Tavernier, FL) demonstrated their angling prowess at the 2013 Robert James Sales Redbone Trilogy Tournament Series in Islamorada, FL. Carmen Perez-Pardron won Ladies Grand Champion by catching bonefish and redfish. Carmen brought in her first ever bonefish, which proved to be a winner in the Largest Bonefish category. Joining her at the podium was team member, Linda Denkert (Tavernier, Florida) and Captain Eric Herstedt as they won the title of Team Grand Champions.
The anglers of the IWFA also had hot hands at the recent IWFA 2013 Light Tackle Tournament in Islamorada, FL. The ladies caught 941 fish on 15 boats with 30 anglers. Species caught included tarpon, snook, redfish, permit, snook, seatrout, and ladyfish. Susan Gros, who resides in The Villages, FL, took home the coveted title as Grand Champion Angler. Susan is a multi-IGFA world record holder for dolphin, yellowfin tuna and wahoo. The winning teams at the tourney consisted of Susan Gros, Hazel Basnight and Joan Kelley. Joan Kelley from Key West, FL also took home the Top Fly Angler, 2nd Place Angler and Top Angler Day 3 awards. Aledia Tush, of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters in Siesta Key, was also bestowed with several trophies this year, taking home top honors for Top Artificial Angler, 3rd Place Overall, and Top Rod Day 2. The IWFA promotes angling competition among women and all club tournaments are release only.
2013 IWFA Lady Anglers at the Light Tackle Tournament!
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