Recently the Annual Chix-N-Stix Fishing Tournament was hosted by The Resort at MarinaVillage. Looks like the lady anglers thoroughly enjoyed themselves! Check out the story from a recent News-Press article:
The Reel Thing – Popular tournament proves lady anglers aren’t fish out of water
Girls’ Getaway Weekends run the gamut; agendas could be spa pampering, or maybe food and wine — but, in the case of Chix-N-Stix the goal is to reel in lots of fish in the waters of Southwest Florida.
This popular ladies-only fishing tournament is a down and dirty laugh-until-your-sides-hurt weekend that’s more about bonding and female camaraderie than it is about competition — The Resort at MarinaVillage adds all the style, comfort, and service these lady anglers need.
Chix-n-Stix happens twice a year, a weekend in December and a weekend in the spring. The next tournament is scheduled for March 23 and 24.
Event planner Kristi Riley, one of its most enthusiastic organizers, raves about the Resort at MarinaVillage, “The folks at the resort have been so generous to us,” she says. “We usually have 200–250 participants and around half make a girls getaway out of it and stay for the weekend. MarinaVillage offers us a discounted rate, plus the girls typically share rooms, which makes it even more fun.”
And fun is the name of the game when it comes to Chix-N-Stix, starting with a Friday night opening party (“Captains Meeting”) nearby at The Joint at Cape Harbour. On Saturday, the ladies gather their teams, board their boats (some cast their reels off docks or piers) and troll for Lady Fish (of course) to fill up their buckets. Saturday night features an awards dinner where some honors are less serious than others; in fact, the award for Most Unique Team Name allows for lots of creativity (“Finger Hookin’ Good”, “Girls Gone Fishing”, “A-lure-ing Ladies”, just to name a few). Proceeds from sales of the catch benefit Oasis Charter Fishing School.
Jessica Boles, a lady angler who has fished in three Chix-N-Stix tournaments so far, says Sunday is the day when the girls can relax and really enjoy the resort. “Some go the spa, others spend time in the gym — plus, there are shops and cafes. It’s a perfect weekend.”
The Resort at MarinaVillage hosts the festive fisherwomen in studio residences that afford gorgeous views of the Caloosahatchee River, San Carlos Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Andrea Locke, national sales manager for the resort, says the Chix-N-Stix weekends are always spirited.
“There’s such a great vibe of friendship,’’ she says. “Whether the ladies are telling stories around our riverfront fire pit, strolling the galleries and boutiques at MarinaVillage, or getting a facial or massage at Esterra, our full service salon and spa, they’re always together in groups, laughing and relaxing.”
The Resort at MarinaVillage is a hidden gem, where you’ll even find a water and nature preserve, bicycle and kayak rentals, tennis courts, and a water taxi to Fort Myers Beach. “I can’t say enough about the service. Everyone at the resort is just great – they know our names and we know theirs. I imagine so many lady anglers all converging for a Girls’ Getaway Weekend could be quite a handful, but the staff treats us like princesses,” Jessica said.
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