Five Black women who recently tried their hands at fishing are now participating in the sport competitively and using the experience to build a special bond with each other while still balancing family, motherhood and businesses.
In an interview with Today, The group, now called the Ebony Anglers, from North Carolina said it all started when they happened to be near a competitive fishing event one day.
"They had this huge fish and they just looked like they were having a ball. I immediately thought to myself, I can do this," Gia Peebles told Today.
Peebles then went to her friends to see "who's crazy enough" to try the sport with her. Lesleigh Mausi, Glenda Turner, Bobbiette Palmer and Tiana Davis all gladly accepted her invitation.
The women entered their first tournament last year, just 30 days after forming a team. Despite the inexperience, the group tasted its first victory with a 48-pound King Mackerel in their first-ever tournament and only their second time on a boat together. The win not only brought a trophy, but also the priceless feeling of coming together and achieving something spectacular.
The Ebony Anglers now consider themselves trailblazers, taking part in a sport where Black women aren't often seen. According to ASA, the world's largest sportfishing trade association, residents of "urban communities" make up only about 10 percent of the angler population.
"We do know that there are not a lot of people of color in this sport, so we do realize that we are trailblazing a path for others who want to participate in sport fishing," Peebles said.
The women, who are also mothers, said their adventure has been well-received at home, where their children are giving them "cool points." That was especially the case when the Ebony Anglers received a blue check on Instagram, the group said.
"The blue check was a game-changer for sure," Peebles said while laughing with her friends.
The fishing aficionados, who range in age from 37 to 57, come from different professional backgrounds. While Peebles makes a living as the owner of a full-service salon, Mausi is also an entrepreneur who has won awards as an educator and author, The Ebony Anglers website states. Turner has built her reputation as an award-winning nail stylist, while Palmer works as a graphic media artist, creative director and CEO of Socialotus Media Group and Baroque Fashion Media. New York native Tiana Davis ran a successful publishing company for a decade before returning to her previous occupation as a restaurateur and caterer.
In addition to embracing the sport of fishing, the women are committed to giving back to their community.
"The Ebony Anglers honor a deep commitment to youth and cultural engagement through their annual mentoring and leadership programs: Black Girls Fish and Black Boys Boat," the group's mission states.
Their goal is to help young people appreciate the sport, educate the youth in fundamentals of fishing and instill "life skills that promote self-sufficiency, physical and intellectual fortitude and sound leadership values."
