4 Ways to Support Hispanic Women Fishing This Year

How can we support getting more Hispanic women fishing and out on the water in 2025? What are some of the barriers Latina women face when it comes to the outdoors? To answer these questions, I recently contacted Tatiana Cruz, owner of Tampa Bay Kayak Anglers.

Tatiana and her husband, Mario, organize educational fishing camps for the Hispanic community in Pinellas County, FL and receive first-hand feedback from the Latina anglers community regarding some of the cultural barriers. During my conversation with Tatiana, she suggested a few ways to build supportive communities for Hispanic women who are interested in fishing:

1. Focus on Family Involvement

“There is a major emphasis on family in Hispanic cultures. Women often experience feelings of guilt about taking time to learn how to fish or go fishing,” states Cruz. She often goes fishing with her daughter and mentions that when events are geared toward family participation (including multigenerational activities), this can help boost engagement rates because the entire family can enjoy fishing together.

2. Learn About the Barriers

Ask or survey potential participants to learn more about any barriers they might be facing when it comes to participation in fishing activities. These barriers could include language barriers or a lack of fishing mentors. When talking with Tatiana, she mentioned that the various dialects of Spanish (such as Cuban, Dominican, Mexican, Columbian) can sometimes present communication challenges. Although, Spanglish (speaking a combination of English and Spanish) can help when connecting with younger generations in Hispanic communities.

3. Collaborate with Local Organizations

Collaborate with local nonprofits, fishing clubs, and conservation groups to gain access to resources, expertise, and logistical support. Partnering with Hispanic-focused organizations can help bridge cultural gaps, get the word out about upcoming fishing events, and ensure Latina fishing community engagement programs resonate with the target audience.

3. Offer Clinics and Events for Young Hispanic Women

When building a Latina anglers community, focusing on girls and young women in the 10 to 13 age range may contribute to increased retention. Based on Tatiana’s experience with fishing clinics and events in the Tampa Bay area, girls in the 10 to 13 age range provided her with the feedback that they feel more comfortable when events are geared toward girls or young women only versus boys and girls. earn more about one of RBFF’s women’s initiatives, “Women Making Waves”.

4. Promote Events Through Culturally Relevant Channels

Spread the word about events and clinics through platforms or channels that are popular within Hispanic communities, such as Spanish-language radio stations, online social media groups, and local community centers. Use culturally appropriate messaging and inclusive imagery so that Hispanic women can visualize themselves engaging in the sport. After each event, request feedback to understand what worked well and what could be improved. Use the input to refine future initiatives and meet the community’s needs as they evolve.

Female representation in fishing industry is at an all-time high, but we still need to work harder to get more Hispanic women fishing by helping them overcome the barriers and build inclusive communities where they feel supported.