5 Amazing Examples of Women Fishing and Boating Through the Decades

There are more women fishing and boating than ever before. In fact, according to the 2024 Special Report on Fishing conducted by the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and the Outdoor Foundation, women now make up nearly 37% of all anglers in the country. While female participation numbers haven’t always been this high, you don’t have to look very hard to find examples of female anglers and boaters who were trailblazers through previous decades. In honor of Women’s History Month, learn about five women who were inspiring anglers and boaters.

Helen Lerner

In the 1930’s and 1940’s, IGFA Fishing Hall of Famer Helen Lerner, shattered early big game fishing records. She made history as the first woman to reel in a bluefin tuna off the European continent, was the inaugural angler to catch nine tuna in a single year, and the pioneer in catching a broadbill swordfish in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. She is one of the true unsung heroes when it comes to women breaking barriers in fishing.

Joan Salvato Wulff

In 1951, Joan Wulff won the national fly-casting distance title in an all-male competition and was a National Casting Champion from 1943-1960. She started the Wulff School of Fly Fishing in New York, along with her husband, Lee Wulff, in 1978. She is widely regarded as the pioneer of modern-day fly-casting mechanics. Wulff spent nearly two decades as spokesperson for The Garcia Corporation.

Naomi Christine James

Naomi Christine James is the first woman to have sailed solo around the world via Cape Horn and the second woman to have ever sailed solo around the world. She departed Dartmouth, Devon on September 9, 1977, and completed her voyage on June 8, 1978, after 272 days, topping Sir Francis Chichester's solo round-the-world sailing record by two days – making her one of the most accomplished women in boating. She was named New Zealand 1978 Sailor of the Year and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1979 in recognition of her sailing achievements.

Marsha Bierman

With more than 2,000 billfish catches to her credit, South Florida big-game angler Marsha Bierman was one of the legendary anglers responsible for popularizing the stand-up fish fighting technique during the 1980s. "Fishing is the only sport in the world where you are not handicapped because you are a woman,” Bierman was quoted as saying. She loved the man or woman-versus-fish aspect of fighting big fish – without using a fighting chair.

Pam Martin-Wells

Pam Martin-Wells isn’t just the leading money winner among female bass anglers, she’s also the current head coach of the Emmanuel College bass fishing team. Martin-Wells grew up fishing with her parents on Lake Seminole in Georgia. Her passion for fishing paired with her competitive nature turned into a successful career. Her career highlights include winning the inaugural Women's Bassmaster Tour (WBT) Championship, eight-time winner Angler of the Year, placed 22nd in the Bassmaster Classic, and the final day cut at the 2010 Bassmaster Classic.

Let’s honor and remember these inspiring female anglers and boaters during Women’s History Month and always.