“It was a moment where we saw what we could be,” Gia says. “As we talked and learned more about each other and bonded, ideas flowed. We all knew we were about to embark on something new and exciting, [and there was] a little bit of uncertainty associated with it.”

That next weekend, the all-women team competed for the first time. Ebony Anglers won first prize in the species category for a 48-pound king mackerel in the Carteret Community College Spanish & King Mackerel Tournament. This accomplishment captured the attention of BBC Sports, The New York Times and the “Today” show.

Ebony Anglers won first prize in the species category for a 48-pound king mackerel in the Carteret Community College Spanish & King Mackerel Tournament. This accomplishment captured the attention of BBC Sports, The New York Times and the “Today” show.

“Even at that time, we all kind of felt there was something on the horizon, something bigger than we had imagined,” Tiana says. “We didn’t realize the impact we would have on that local area and on the fishing industry.”

On tournament day, members of Ebony Anglers meet at the dock by 5 a.m. and start with a prayer. Each member’s entrepreneurial spirit strengthens their role on the team. Glenda operates a nail salon and Airbnb; she scouts out tournaments and suggests options for boat captains. Tiana runs catering and hospitality companies; she makes sure the team is nourished with food and drink. Gia co-owns a salon and insurance agency; she’s the team’s captain and coordinates logistics and tournament selection. Lesleigh, a former educator, founded several companies including concert promotions and a luxury car service; she leads the team’s prayers and handles public relations.

“Once we get out there, we fall into rhythm,” Tiana says. “Most often, there are at least four lines in the water. Once a line hits (a fish is on the line), whoever is up at bat will go and grab that rod. I think we work really well as a team, supporting each other in the fight for the fish.”

Casting a wide net

With a spotlight on the team’s achievements, Ebony Anglers saw an opportunity to form Ebony Anglers Foundation, a nonprofit organization with a mission to “cultivate confidence, character and competence in youth through the outdoor sporting lifestyle of fishing and boating.”

Since 2021, the foundation has been hosting camps and educational programs for boys and girls ages 8 through 12. Through mentorship and hands on learning, children learn the fundamentals of fishing including the parts of a fishing rod, how to cast, tie a knot and use bait and lures.

When the 25 to 30 campers arrive for Flagship Camp: Fishing Fundamentals at Falls Lake State Recreation Area in Durham, they receive breakfast, a nametag and a T-shirt. The campers learn about conservation and stewardship and move through educational stations staffed by members of Ebony Anglers and volunteers. After lunch, campers fish from the piers and the shore. They end the day discussing what they learned, and each child leaves with a fishing rod and a tackle box.

Since 2023, Ebony Anglers Foundation has been partnering with the National Park Foundation to replicate the Fishing Fundamentals camp outside North Carolina. In 2025, the Barbados Fisheries Division requested the foundation build an ongoing program for its Barbadian children.

“We hear from so many parents that the kids are still fishing because they have the equipment,” Lesleigh says. “They have the skills. They have the fundamentals. All they have to do is get to a body of water.”

Reeling in future anglers

Isaiah Sanders, a 16-year-old high school student from Wendell, heard about Fishing Fundamentals through his mom. Though skeptical at 12, Isaiah decided to attend the camp in 2022. He’d fished in the past but didn’t understand the basics until spending the day at Falls Lake with Ebony Anglers. Isaiah left with stronger fishing skills and the desire to volunteer in the future.

“I introduced myself to new people,” he says. “The environment was very welcoming.”

In 2024, Isaiah joined Legacy Camp, Ebony Angler’s day program for young anglers who completed Fishing Fundamentals and want to learn salt water fishing. Campers fish from a boat and gain knowledge about the role the Outer Banks plays in wildlife.

Isaiah participated in a second Legacy Camp in 2025. When he’s not fishing or in school, he’s a counselor in training at the Piedmont Wildlife Center in Durham. He’s considering studying biology in college.

“[The camps] can expose you to a different environment,” Isaiah says. “You might like it, or you might not. In the end, you usually appreciate the experience.”