Five moms and career women from the New Iberia area teamed up to enter the recent Casting for a Cause Benefitting Down South Heroes for St. Jude.

The Down South Aquaholics, long-time close friends who hold their own fundraisers for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, made a splash without weighing a fish at Don’s Boat Landing in Vermilion Parish near Boston. The women fished the last two days, Saturday and Sunday, of the tournament held June 20-23.

“This is our first year fishing Casting for a Cause. Us girls just decided to do this – fish against the guys. We’re always on the other end of it. This time we actually get to enjoy it and participate,” Nicole Smith, the group’s personable, outgoing unofficial spokesman, said. “We didn’t do good fishing but we made new friends and lots of memories.”

Smith, 53, works as executive sales manager/marketing director for Standard Industrial Services. Her husband, Brad Smith, is co-owner.

The Smiths have fishing rodeo experience. As does Amber Palumbo’s husband, Kevin Palumbo, who welcomed the challenge to skipper the all-female crew that included Darla Legnon, Stacy Romero and his wife.

Just before the tournament, Brad Smith volunteered to be the boat captain’s “deckhand.”

“He (Brad Smith) loved it. He knows I’m very competitive. I’m pretty confident Kevin’s going to put us on fish,” Smith’s wife said.

He originally planned to fish the offshore division while the women took out the Aquaholic, his 24-foot long Skeeter Bay. A tropical disturbance in the Gulf earlier in the week prompted his offshore ride to cancel plans for June 20-23.

About his decision to deckhand, he said with a chuckle, “I had this picture in my mind … five women in a boat, three of them have fish on a line and the lines get tangled up. I told him (Kevin Palumbo) I’d give him a hand.”

After it was over, he said, “The girls did prove me wrong. I was the only one who got tangled up with a bad cast. I’m glad I went. It would have been a little too much work for Kevin. Everything worked out. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. We had a really good crew of fishing ladies.”

They fished both days with fresh shrimp mostly along the Gulf side of Marsh Island and had 12 speckled trout, six keeper redfish and croaker to clean.

And the team made its mark at the auction held the final day. With Smith, Breaux and Palumbo leading the way, they were very generous.

“We spent a lot of money. It was worth it. It goes back to St. Jude,” Smith said.

That’s what they’re all about.

The Down South Aquaholics team is proud to be among the Down South Heroes for St. Jude. Before getting on a bus this December for their annual ride to deliver a mega donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, the gung-ho local women got on the Aquaholic.

The group played host to the inaugural St. Jude Golf Ball Drop in April at Sugar Oaks Golf Course as part of Down South Heroes. Smith and Breaux  went up in the helicopter as the fundraising event took in nearly $10,000.

Next up for the group is Jeepin’ for a Cure set for July 13 with the starting point at Keeping It Twisted, 715 Highway 90 E. The event’s proceeds benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

The all-women team was appreciated by Shannon Howell, who along with her husband, Gary Howell, owns Don’s Boat Landing. The Howells played host to their fifth Casting for A Cause.

“This is the first year we have a lady fishing team. They’re a great group of women. They do a number of fundraisers throughout the year for St. Jude, as well. I think it’s wonderful,” she said.

Howell was so impressed with the women’s initiative and spirit she plans to start a new division for women anglers in 2025.

The final leaderboard included a category for the Cutest Fishing Team with first place going to the fun-loving and gregarious gals from the Teche Area.

Howell said preliminary numbers indicate the fifth Casting for a Cause surpassed last year’s record-breaking $37,500 for Bikers Against Child Abuse.

The Howells purchased Don’s Boat Landing seven years ago. Based on their experience with saltwater tournaments, they decided to hold events benefitting nonprofits. Nominations for next year’s beneficiary will be accepted after the check to St. Jude is presented.

Who are the Down South Aquaholics?

Kylie Breaux, 49, befriended Smith and Ransonet when they met as kids at Cypremort Point Supply House, also known simply as Legnon’s, at Cypremort Point. Their respective families had camps at the Point, where the girls spent a lot of time playing and fishing.

“We fished all the time. (But) I haven’t fished (rodeos) in a long time. I fish off the wharf,” Breaux said.

The Sugar Oaks Golf Course owner enjoys wetting a line and loves to catch redfish. What does she like the most about fishing?

“Oh, everything. Being outdoors. The excitement when you have a fish on the line and reel it in. It’s just exciting,” Breaux said.

Darla Legnon Ransonet, 51-year-old regional director for Gingerbread House in New Iberia, grew up in a fishing family as the daughter of Richard and Sandra Legnon, who owned the store at the Point.

“I used to fish a lot. The last couple of years I haven’t done much. I’m ready to get back at it. This should be fun,” she said.

Ransonet said her husband, Tommy Ransonet, is good friends with their captain for the trip. He had a message for the captain.

“He’s going to say a prayer for him (Palumbo),” she said.

The Down South Aquaholics wanted to catch redfish, speckled trout and croaker big enough to stick on the leaderboard, according to Ransonet.

“That’s what our goal is. We’re in it to win it. We’ve got our captain. He’s got his hands full,” she said before the event.

Of course, the underlying reason means more to her.

“St. Jude is really dear to my heart. Anything we can do to help families, we are there for them,” Ransonet said.

Stacy Romero, 44, an accountant for Summit Fire & Security, is an all-around outdoorswoman who also hunts deer. She confided the only time she doesn’t mind getting up before daylight is to go hunting or fishing.

“Fishing is fun, especially redfish,” said the Coteau woman who fishes freshwater and saltwater but prefers the latter.

Romero also said, “As long as one of us get a fish on the board I’ll be happy.”

Amber Latiolais Palumbo, 47, a branch examiner for Raymond James Financial Inc., started fishing 30 years ago when she married Kevin Palumbo. The New Iberian said she loves to fish, especially for red snapper, although the couple go with friends lately after selling their boat last year.

Before the trip, she said, “We all like to fish, we all like being on the water. It’s going to be fun and it’s for a good cause. That’s what makes it even better.”