WHAT GLASS CEILING?

Third-annual ladies-only expedition lit it up in Guatemala

- CAPT. JEN COPELAND

Being a female in this industry comes with some discretion, good self-control, and a lot of humility, and I've found that the angling landscape has drastically changed over the years. Women are now one of the fastest-growing demographics in offshore fishing, and I find myself encountering more and more of them. They still have to navigate some of the same hurdles that I did, but it's refreshing to see that some of them just want to be seen as any other angler-not as an anomaly or a glass-ceiling breaker, but as another team member. In order for women to be included in the competitive-fishing world, they need to feel comfortable and be open to learning. And although it is true that some people aren't teachable, I've found that if you let down your guard, those Sunteachable moments can become flashes of self-confidence and enthusiasm.

In my experience, that happens fastest when I'm teaching women. The ladies who showed up in Guatemala this past April for one of the most unique learning experiences available crushed it, and my fellow instructor and good friend, Debbi David, and I couldn't be prouder of them. We are their best cheerleaders, and we have the receipts to prove it.