“Take a Hero Fishing Day” Mini Tournament, January 12, 2023
The series kicked off in January 2023 with Operation Sailfish’s signature Take a Hero Fishing Day, an exciting and heartwarming mini tournament on the pre-fish day. The weather was perfect, and the team along with two female veterans as guests, Sandra Drake and Maddy Mollach, were eager to start the day.
The ladies had a slow bite and, regardless of the hard work everyone put in, they returned to the dock without any flags flying. Despite this setback, they didn’t lose heart and instead transformed their 61-foot Viking Surf Bum from a sport-fishing battlewagon to Lady Liberty’s vessel. Their efforts paid off when they won the award for Most Patriotic Boat. The event was a perfect start to the series, with a mini tournament and tribute to the veterans adding to the excitement of the main competition. “It was an honor to share a day on the water with these brave heroes, and a humbling reminder of their selflessness and courage in service to our country,” says teammate Lacey Hagler.
Leg One – Operation Sailfish, January 13-14, 2023
Day One of fishing started with the team meeting at Sailfish Marina in the early-morning hours to load up and head out. Although it was the first time most of the anglers had fished together, they had previously worked out who would be handling which line and quickly settled into their positions. Kelly Young and Dusty Adinolfe would work the short, while Shelby Callison and Jordan White manned the left mid and long. Hagler and Maddy Hazlett held it down on the right mid and long, while Joy Kairalla finessed the flat line.
At 7:58, YouTube personality and passionate angler Young was at the helm, verifying the GoPros in anticipation of getting a release that day. The kites were out and flying beautifully, with the help of some helium. At 8 a.m., team captain Brittney Baldwin shouted, “Lines in, ladies,” signaling the start of the first day of fishing.
Unfortunately, Day One was long with a slow bite, and the same was true for Day Two for the team. Even with the lack of success, the team remained committed and eager to do better in the second leg—the Sailfish Challenge. The experience also provided an opportunity for the team to bond and get to know each other better as anglers, setting the stage for future success.
Leg Two – Sailfish Challenge, February 24-25, 2023
The team kicked off the Sailfish Challenge in Pompano Beach, fishing on the 58-foot Viking D&D out of Hillsboro Inlet. The ladies were pumped and ready for redemption. Boat owner Danny Messa and Capt. Jeremy Hudson decided to head south, which led to an early-morning bite for angler Amber Marchant, setting the team’s spirits high early on.
Despite moving and resetting lines throughout the day, the team’s energy never waned. Day Two brought even better luck, with Hazlett landing her first sailfish early on, and Marchant landing her second for the series shortly after. Later on, Jordan White caught two sailfish during the afternoon bite. While the number of bites may have been lacking, the team’s spirits remained high and infectious, with the ladies cheering each other on and keeping the good vibes going.
The calm seas provided the perfect backdrop for the team to showcase their passion for the sport, bond as a team, and represent lady anglers. With their contagious energy and enthusiasm, it was evident that their focus was not solely on winning, but also on supporting one another and creating lasting memories. Overall, the second leg of the Quest was a success, highlighting the team’s dedication to the sport and their unwavering support for each other.
Leg Three – Final Sail, April 14-15, 2023
The team assembled in Miami Beach for the last leg of the Quest for the Crest Sailfish series, the Final Sail. Capt. Evan Pickrell and his mates had Surf Bum in position, ready and waiting for the 8 a.m. start. “Lines in,” announced boat owner and angler Adinolfe. Goggle-eyes went flying into the water, and the anglers worked to get their lines set, smiling while they awaited the bite.
After seeing a free-jumper off in the distance, Pickrell called for the team to bring their lines in quickly because they were about to make a short run to where the sailfish were just spotted.
That key move resulted in Callison hooking a sailfish and making pretty work of a quick release with mate Corey Shea.
Day Two brought more luck in the meat fish categories with Marchant landing a decent kingfish. Shortly after, the team heard a call from the bow: “I’m on!” Kairalla had hooked a cobia at the bow and fought the fish while making her way to the back of the boat.
White was next to get bit, battling a large blackfin tuna, followed by Kairalla with a tiny but mighty yellowfin tuna and her first sailfish for the series.
Overall, the Final Sail was a success, highlighting the team’s dedication to the sport and their unwavering support for female anglers. With the team’s passionate energy and enthusiasm, it was evident that their focus was not solely on winning but also on supporting one another and hoping to encourage more all-female angler teams to participate in competitive offshore tournaments.
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