Text and photos by Mary Peachin, Suzie Peachin, Denise Freihofer, Susan Gros
Vol. 26, No.9/10
June/July, 2023
Building intricate sand castles on Southern California’s Mission Beach, four-year-old Suzie asked if we could surf cast for perch from the beach. Eager to please, we were a mother-child team. I did the casting and Suzie did the reeling. After what seemed like hours, we caught a teeny little fish, barely enough for her “please, can I eat him for dinner” request.
We headed to our oceanfront apartment to cook her dinner. After all the time spent surfcasting, we named the little fish Patience. Cleaning the fish, I turned on the disposal while scaling it. The slippery little guy slipped out of my hands and down it went into the disposal. Hours spent, no more Patience, and a disappointed child.
That may have been an unhappy ending for the fish, but it was an awakening for Suzie. She became an avid and patient angler.
Along the way, now in her 20’s, Suzie got hooked on fly fishing. In doing so, Suzie became a world-class fly fisher. She could hit a floating leaf with her fly.
Fast forward to 2023, and Suzie is the winner of the Arostegui Trout Release awarded by IWFA (International Women’s Fishing Association.) This translates into Suzie’s releasing the most of four species of trout in 2022. Members of this prestigious, international fishing organization include hundreds of women (internationally) who diligently send fish (caught or released) affidavits to the Club on a monthly basis.
The International Women’s Fishing Association was organized in 1955 by Palm Beach lady anglers. For years, these women traveled long distances to watch their husband fish in tournaments. The IWFA founders knew their only chance to fish was on “Ladies Day,” but only if their husbands had enjoyed three good days of fishing. The more they discussed it, the more determined they became to do something about their exclusion. After that fishing season, four women gathered to discuss the issue.
“Denny” Crowninshield, Kay Rybovich, Jacqueline Gerli, and Ginny Sherwood would be the founders of the International Women’s’ Fishing Association.
The foursome telephoned their friends, and two weeks later, with 16 members present, they proudly held their first IWFA meeting. By June, 1955, a hundred women had joined. They announced their first annual sailfish tournament in 1957.
Two years later, the IWFA women received an invitation to field a team in the Hemingway Marlin Tournament held in Havana, Cuba. This invitation allowed the first women’s team to compete against men in a fishing tournament. IWFA made headlines when they brought the championship trophy home.
Always interested in conservation and education, in 1966 the members of the IWFA established a scholarship trust to aid qualified students seeking advanced degrees in the field of Marine Sciences. To date over 150 scholarships have been awarded. IWFA is proudly the recipient of both the IGFA’s and The Billfish Foundation’s Conservation Awards. Ongoing IWFA programs continue to encourage women’s fishing while funding scholarships and promoting conservation.
Today’s membership includes women anglers from around the world. IWFA members have tested the fishing grounds from Florida to Alaska, and Australia to Chile.
Following the presentation of the award at the Sarasota Yacht Club, Suzie and I drove to Boca Grande, and the Innlet Hotel for a 2-day “funament” held by IWFA. Unlike other tournaments, there were no specific rules or regulations, it was all about fishing and fun for 24 women.
It was amazing to see the quality of their casting and fishing skills. There were lots of fish to be released and the opportunity to meet new friends with a common interest. Each of the two evenings included a party, and IWFA-ers party hardy.
All too soon, it was time to head back to Orlando to catch our flights home. Suzie and I had a quick getaway, she was recognized for her fly-fishing ability, and had a great time fishing with a casting rod and making new friends. And consider it already done, Suzie has already booked her trout fly fishing. Maybe another award next year?