What started as a social idea in Nov 2020 to organise a ladies charter or two with family & friends, has taken off with such popularity, that I now run Ladies Fishing Charters out on Westernport Bay every other Sat between September and May ( weather permitting)
With nothing of its type available in Victoria, I decided to organise a ladies charter on our friends magnificent fully restored 51 year old commercial & charter boat, here in San Remo. Mixed charters can sometimes be a bit intimidating if you’re the only chick, so I started with a group of ladies I knew. Then they returned with sisters and neighbours etc and before I knew it I was hosting ladies I’d never met!
Not only do ladies love to socialise with each other, they embrace the mental health benefits of reconnecting to nature out on the water away from the stresses of every day life.
At around the same time I started organising the charters I discovered the Women in Recreational Fishing Network(WIRF) It’s a wonderful free online community on Facebook and Instagram for women of all backgrounds, skill levels and ages to share their passion for fishing and boost each other up.
I advertised the Ladies Charters on the WIRF Network and bookings went gang busters!! I had ladies from as far as Ballarat, Bendigo and Daylesford, with ladies booking accommodation overnight and making a weekend of it.
I have run over 20 charters so far, hosting over 200 ladies. I would have run more by now but lockdowns and wild winds saw quite a few cancelled. The charters are very much a learning platform for the women, some have caught their very first fish which is wonderful to witness. One lady tried fishing for the first time at age 83 and I have hosted pregnant ladies as well.
Both the Captain, Deckie and myself have years and years of saltwater experience and are adept in assisting the ladies catch the many species found in Westernport Bay. Captain Craig & Deckie Terry look after 3 different government disability groups as well as their mixed charters and are incredible with their patience and going the extra mile to assist.
In July 2021 I became a Leader in the WIRF Network who now help sponsor showbags for the Ladies with boating and fishing info to take home. I also organise lucky angler prizes from local sponsors, music and home cooked finger food to share. We have lots of fun and many ladies are now what I call repeat offenders, returning time and again having become hooked!
I about to host the first of a series of Ladies full day offshore charters for those who are keen to chase SBF Tuna and bottom bounce for other species.
At the end of each charter we fillet the fish and have a discussion about ways to cook them. Many ladies send me happy snaps of their recipes and creations which makes me smile.
I am very passionate about fishing and getting other ladies enthusiastic too! You can find the Ladies Fishing Charters San Remo page on Facebook. You can also follow my personal fishing adventures on Facebook and Insta as fishing_nanna.
By Amanda Keilar
@fishing_nanna
Proud Leader, Women in Recreational Fishing Network
