Tell us a little about yourself!
I grew up in South Jersey, about 30 minutes north of Cape May. I went to Ocean City High School, where I played field hockey, basketball and track and field. I received an athletic scholarship to play field hockey for the Penn State Nittany Lions, and I was the starting goalie from 1992-1996. I briefly traveled with the U.S. Women’s National Team and was an assistant coach at Wake Forest University. I got into law enforcement in 1999 and became the first female officer on a small police department in rural Pennsylvania, but moved to Virginia Beach, Va., in 2002 and am now getting ready to retire as a police captain from the Virginia Beach Police Department. My wife, who is also a captain and is gearing up to retire, and I love the outdoors and have spent many vacations traveling and hiking. We also love searching for fossils and shark teeth and have become fairly adept at DIY home improvement projects.
Outside of fishing for anything with gills, I have found a new passion for custom rod building and started a small side business combining art and function. I have only started scratching the surface with this new endeavor, but I’m excited to see where this new path takes me!
How did you first get into fishing, and who inspired you to start?
I started fishing with my dad when I was about 5 or 6 years old. One of my dad’s favorite stories involved the first fish I caught. It was a little sunny on a bobber-and-worm setup. When he told me I had a fish, I didn’t reel it in like a normal person. I turned, put that rod on my shoulder and ran up the bank, ripping that poor fish out of the water like it had wings. I fished with my dad all the time. He always had boats and crazy ideas on how to get to “untouched” water, and we would fish for everything. Even when I went away to college, I always had a fishing pole and tackle box and would find places to get a line in the water. Some of my favorite childhood memories involve my dad and me out on the water.
What is your favorite body of water to fish, and why?
I love fishing saltwater, especially inlets. One of my favorite fish to catch is juvenile redfish, or as we call them in Virginia, “puppy drum.” They fight hard, and on light tackle it’s an amazing rush when they strip line and bend that rod to the max. I also love it because of the variety of fish you can target (flounder, speckled trout, bluefish, striped bass, etc.), and really, the opportunities are almost year-round in Virginia depending on the water temperatures.
What is your favorite technique or lure to throw when you need to catch a bass?
Getting that hookset on a bass is a rush not easily explained, but if you know, you know! I love using a trick worm on either a Carolina rig or Texas rig, or weightless on a weedless hook. There is a feeling of anticipation when you start to feel that fish messing with the worm, and when you see that line start to move in the other direction, you know it’s game on! A very close second is getting hit on a topwater lure, like a Whopper Plopper or frog. This is a technique that I have to force myself to work on, but when that water surface explodes, it’s an incredible rush.
What has been the proudest moment of your fishing career so far?
I have been fortunate to be in a position to pass on my love for fishing to my nephew. It makes my heart and soul happy when we fish together, and as he was growing up, he would call or text me to show me pictures of fish he caught. Even though he is now 17, we still have incredible fishing adventures together, and I burst with pride whenever he sends me pictures of his catches. He never got a chance to meet my dad, his grandfather, but I know I have passed on the Meister fishing obsession trait to him.
What is one lesson fishing has taught you that carries over into everyday life?
Stop overthinking and trying to control everything. Enjoy the moment, look around and take in the surroundings, the sights and sounds of nature. And if a fish decides it wants the bait you are throwing, then that’s the icing on the cake. I have learned that this way of thinking applies to my work and personal life as well. Fishing has rewired my brain to take in the moment and be intentional in my words and actions.
If you could give one piece of advice to a woman or girl who wants to start bass fishing, what would it be?
Go out there and do it! It’s never been easier to get involved with a group, especially one for women, to start fishing. Accept the fact that you will make mistakes and that you may not catch anything for quite a while. Just don’t quit. Find a local guide or charter that you are willing to pay for and tell them you want to learn as much as you can. Don’t just let them hand you the rod when the fish is already on the hook. Ask questions, take notes, go hands-on and learn what works for you.
What is one thing people might be surprised to learn about you outside of fishing?
I have been teaching leadership courses since 2016. I am a course facilitator for the Women’s Leadership Institute through the International Association of Chiefs of Police and have taught courses throughout the country.
What are your goals for the next few years, both on and off the water?
My main goal for the next few years is to retire from a long, successful career in law enforcement and refocus my passion toward custom rod building. I would love to have a chance at a second career as a reliable and talented rod builder, and I believe I’m on my way! I also want to spend time traveling and fishing in places I’ve never been.
If you could spend one day fishing with anyone, past or present, who would it be and why?
Definitely my dad. I lost him to cancer when I was 31, and I feel that I have lived an entire lifetime without him. I have so many things I want to talk to him about and stories I want to share. I want him to see the person he helped mold and shape and who I turned out to be. I want to hear his laugh, listen to his voice as we chat about life, and truly appreciate that togetherness in a way I didn’t understand when I was younger.
