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The Marlin Lady Angler Team has a mission that goes beyond winning; to elevate the profile of female anglers and inspire women of all experience levels to join the sport. With its second season in the books, the Marlin Lady Angler Team is quickly becoming a powerful presence in the world of offshore tournament fishing.
The team is composed of six accomplished women, each bringing unique skills and passion to the sport. Philanthropist Dusty Adinolfe fishes aboard her Viking, Surf Bum. Kelly Young, a YouTube star and world-record spearfisher, adds her adventurous spirit. Shelby Callison, an award-winning angler, and Maddy Hazlett, founder of the Sailfish Sweethearts Ladies Tournament, bring competitive zeal. Amber Marchant, a seasoned Pelagic pro-staffer, and team manager Lacey Hagler, a US Coast Guard veteran and Marlin’s associate events director, round out the team.
In 2023, the team made history by being the first all-female group to compete in Belize’s largest fishing event, the Grand Caribe Deep Sea Classic. Their third-place finish and Maddy Hazlett’s win as Top Lady Angler turned heads. When the team returned in 2024, they were thrilled to find that female participation had doubled from the previous year, contributing to the event’s record-breaking registration of 53 boats.
Fishing under the Marlin brand and supported by others such as Pelagic, Viking Yacht Co. and Akzo Nobel, the team fished a total of six tournaments in 2024. The team enjoys not only the fishing and competitive aspect, but also meeting other lady and junior anglers on the road.
Their camaraderie and enthusiasm for supporting other women has inspired more ambitious female participation in offshore fishing, and the team eagerly anticipates future tournaments and continued growth in the sport.
Read Next: Learn more about Marlin‘s Lady Angler Team.
Dusty Adinolfe
Fishing with the Marlin Lady Angler Team holds tremendous significance for me, particularly when it comes to making a difference for women in fishing and inspiring junior anglers. Our friendships, along with the skills we’ve honed together, challenge the perception of fishing as solely a man’s sport. I’ve noticed a positive shift in the industry. Many men are receptive and supportive of female anglers, and we’re seeing more ladies tournaments and successful women competing alongside men. Together we are paving the way for more women to engage in this incredible activity and inspiring the next generation of anglers. I encourage women to embrace this incredible sport and challenge themselves.
Kelly Young
Fishing on the Marlin Lady Angler Team has opened up a new side of fishing for me—the tournament side of the fishing world. The most memorable highlight was developing a deeper connection with a group of like-minded ladies! When each of us hook into fish, the energy is positive and encouraging, then wild once the leader is touched! If you are a lady and interested in getting into fishing, first determine the type of fish you want to target. Then research on YouTube or Google the best time of year, gear or license required, bait and tides when those fish bite. For any fishing where you need a boat, look up charters in your area, support local guides and gain more knowledge from them. I have been in the fishing industry for about seven years now, and I’ve seen a huge increase in women getting into the sport. As a female outdoor YouTuber, I get messages about how my videos have inspired someone’s 9-year-old daughter, who is practicing throwing a cast net in the yard and wants to go fishing because she watched a woman do it!
Shelby Callison
I love fishing on the Marlin Lady Angler Team because it grants me the opportunity to get on the water with great people, and hopefully inspire the next generation. I have absolutely noticed changes in the industry for female anglers over the years. When I first started trying to get my foot in the door at billfish tournaments, it was very rare to see women involved in the cockpit, and I received a lot of doubt myself. Now, it’s almost expected to see women involved. It’s been great to see female anglers banding together to support each other, and to see the industry embrace the change and recognize the grit us women have. For the women who want to get into fishing, I would say don’t get discouraged in the beginning when you’re learning. We all share the same passion, and finding a community of women to encourage you and teach you will take you the furthest.
Madison Hazlett
Growing up, you didn’t see many lady anglers. There were a few, but it was rare. Now we have so many female anglers that it seems like every boat on the dock has one female angler. It’s great! We definitely have a lot more lady tournaments and lady angler prizes in every tournament. Some advice I would give women who are interested in getting into fishing is to just do it! Take the leap. Learn the fishery and the industry. Ride along and watch the mates rig and anglers hook fish. Just get involved however you can. You can learn the most by sitting back and observing. Then try it yourself and remember that practice makes perfect. Do not give up!
