Florida Angler Amy Lockhart Continues To Serve
After Amy Lockhart sent me a message about possibly going with us to Panama this November, I started researching her past and her considerable accomplishments. Almost immediately I knew I need to interview her for our website. In short, she’s a 20-year Navy Veteran who loves to fish! But there’s much more to the story than that. After retiring from an official career serving our country, Amy is still helping people, one by one, except this time in the fishing industry. Here’s her story in her own words:
HPFC: Where are you from and how did you get involved in fishing?
Amy Lockhart: I am originally from a small town in western Tennessee. I practically grew up on the Tennessee River camping and bass fishing. My parents had me on a bass boat before I even started walking!
HPFC: Did you have a fishing mentor or mentors along the way?
Amy Lockhart: My very first mentor was Captain Bruce Jackmack from Naples, Florida. I was devastated when he suddenly passed away in 2017. I was thankful when a couple of people in the Tampa Bay area took me under their wings to continue teaching me the ways. My friend Allison Stattner, who I met through the International Women’s Fishing Association (IWFA), has been my biggest mentor for over a year now She’s a strong and positive role model for women of all ages in the industry. She’s not only a mentor but a very good friend of mine.
HPFC: Where do you fish the most and for what?
Amy Lockhart: In the past five years I’ve primarily fished in the Tampa Bay area and was a deckhand for a couple of different captains. I’ve recently branched out and started fishing anywhere and everywhere. I’ve set out on a mission to check things off my bucket list!
HPFC: What are your favorite species?
Amy Lockhart: I have to choose a favorite? That’s like asking a parent to choose their favorite child, hahahaha! Just to name a few: I absolutely love red drum, snook, tripletail, dolphin (mahi), and gag grouper.
HPFC: What are your favorite techniques?
Amy Lockhart: I’m primarily a spinning angler unless I’m fishing deep -- then I’ll use an electric reel. In the future I’d love to learn to fly fish!
HPFC: What are some of the other places you’ve been?
Amy Lockhart: I’ve been to some cool places during my 20-year career in the Navy: Germany, Nigeria, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Tajikistan just to name a few. I never fished any of these locations but was able to spend some time on the water while I was stationed in Bahrain.
HPFC: What are some dream locations?
Amy Lockhart: Alaska, Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, and Belize are on my bucket list. Currently I have trips planned to Alaska and Guatemala for 2023.
HPFC: What are your bucket list species?
Amy Lockhart: My dream species include anything I haven’t caught yet! If I had to choose, I’d love to catch a swordfish, warsaw grouper or bluefin tuna.
HPFC: What other sort of memorable experiences have you had?
Amy Lockhart: My favorite memory to date happened this year. A good friend of mine and fellow veteran, Corrine Fuller, informed me that she had a brain tumor that would require surgery. She invited me on a tarpon trip the week before her surgery and of course there was no doubt in my mind that I would be going. Tarpon is the one fish that eluded her for 28 years so I knew this would be an exciting adventure. We hired Capt. Brock Horner who is known for catching the big ones and runs tarpon charters all year. The trip was comprised of four amazing and talented female angers.
We started out fishing his usual spot but as the winds picked up Capt. Brock wasn’t seeing the number of fish he’s used to seeing so we all decided to head to the famous Boca Grande Pass. After buying some pass crabs we were all on our way. As the weather got worse, we knew there wouldn’t be the normal 200-plus boats to contend with which was a very good thing. However, we would be dealing with four-to-six-foot swells but I knew that would be no challenge for the four women fishing.
After the team hooked up and lost a couple of fish, I hooked up and was able to get it boatside for a short celebration. With a successful release it was back to fishing because, after all, we were on a mission to get Corinne on her very first tarpon! Shortly after fishing resumed Corinne was hooked up!!! As she’s fighting this massive fish, Capt. Brock puts the boat in reverse and is headed to the beach. After 45 mins to an hour of fighting this fish Corinne has landed her very first tarpon! We all got off the boat and took the iconic water/beach photo with this amazing creature then released her to live another day and make another dream come true! For more information about this amazing woman, check out her blog.
HPFC: How did you get into tournament fishing and where have you competed?
Amy Lockhart: I won my first tournament when I was 5 years old fishing a local bass tournament in my hometown. More recently, it all started with a tournament in 2014 called Naples Take a Soldier Fishing in Naples, Florida. Along with my female partner, Nichole Coffey, and the best guide in Florida (Bruce Jackmack) we won it and were the first women to win it. From that moment on all I wanted to do was fish tournaments. I started emailing tournament directors asking if they knew any teams with an open spot that would take a chance on a newbie who didn’t know much but was willing to learn. Fishing tournaments just grew from there.
I’ve fished almost all the tournaments in the Tampa area along with fishing in the Power Pole Pro and Professional Redfish League in Louisiana. I’m always open to fish tournaments anytime and anywhere!
HPFC: What does competition add to the overall experience?
Amy Lockhart: I’ve always been competitive so fishing in tournaments just helps drive that part of me. It’s one thing that made me successful in my military career and one thing I hope helps me continue being successful fishing.
HPFC: How do you use fishing to help your fellow veterans?
Amy Lockhart: I found out firsthand how fishing and being outdoors can be healing When I retired, I honestly felt lost in the world, not knowing what I wanted to do when I grew up. I literally spent my entire adult life, up to that point, in the military. It was simply scary. When I took up fishing, I found that it was very therapeutic and healing at the same time. Not only was I learning a new skill, but it was helping me to relax and be stress free. It takes me back to the time of that 5-year-old bass fishing when the world was innocent and carefree. The symptoms of my PTSD, anxiety, and depression were starting to improve.
I thought, “If fishing could do this for me, why not other veterans?” If I could help get veterans on the water, even if it was only for a couple of hours, it would help them forget about stressful events that may have happened in the past or what was currently going on in their lives. I sought to volunteer with non-profits that did just that. Over the years I’ve volunteered with Naples Take a Soldier Fishing, Vet Catch, Reeling Freedom, Carrying the Load, and Reeling Warriors Foundation. It’s also very therapeutic for me to help my fellow veteran brothers and sisters. It’s my way of paying it forward!
HPFC: What can you tell me about the IWFA?
Amy Lockhart: The International Women’s Fishing Association was created in 1955 during the International Light Tackle Tournament in Palm Beach, Florida. Four women by the name of Mrs. “Denny” Crowninshield, Mrs. John “Kay” Rybovich, Mrs. Thomas “Ginny” Sherwood, and Mrs. Jacqueline Gerli created IWFA after being determined to fish on more than just on “Ladies Day.” By the end of June 1955 there were 100 members and in December of that year they held the first IWFA Sailfish Tournament. The rest is “herstory”! The organization has done some amazing things over the years like being invited to the Hemingway Marlin Tournament in Cuba in which they brought home the championship trophy! In 1966, IWFA established a scholarship trust to aid qualified students in seeking advanced degrees in the field of Marine Sciences. To date, over 150 scholarships have been awarded. Today’s memberships include around 300 women from all over the world, from Florida to Australia.
This is my fourth year with the organization and I absolutely love it. It helps drive my competition along with creating a network of women who all have a common goal. We have a portal to log the fish we catch and at the end of the month/year we get awards for accumulating the most points for a certain species. Along with that, we have an annual meeting/awards luncheon and tournaments in Louisiana and Islamorada. Every other year we have a destination tournament, which will be in Guatemala in 2023. It happens to be at Casa Vieja Lodge February 15 through 19, 2023. I understand you and Pete will be there February 19 through 23, so sorry we will miss you. If any ladies out there are interested in joining, please get in contact with me.
HPFC: How can we encourage more women to fish?
Amy Lockhart: The best way to encourage more women to fish is by simply getting them out there. We need to continue showing women that this is something they can do and be good at. It’s also a great way of making lifelong friendships.
This is just the beginning of our lifelong friendship; I can feel it. I can’t wait to get on the water with Amy and get to know her beyond this interview.
Amy, thank you for speaking with me, thank you for letting others get to know you and most importantly THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
