SINKING STEREOTYPES IN FISHING

The sun is just starting to glow on the horizon along Fort Myers, Florida when 55 boats slide out into the ocean to hunt for the elusive king tarpon. A giant silver creature that can weigh more than 100 pounds, tarpon isn’t an easy fish to bag. It leaps from the water when hooked, forcing anglers to “bow to the king” in order to not break their line. The battle can last 45 minutes—a back-breaking fight between human and beast. Sharon LaBree, a Bradenton, Florida native, doesn’t usually target tarpon, but having been an avid angler since she was two years old, she is familiar enough with fishing to take on the challenge—and it feeds her love of the sport. “Fishing has always been a way for me to relax and connect with nature,” she says. “The feeling of peace, relaxation and gratitude I feel every time I