Chasten Whitfield knows what it feels like to hear, “Fishing’s not for you.”
Developing a strong interest in fishing during her middle school years, Whitfield endured relentless bullying simply for being the only girl in her class that enjoyed the sport.
Undeterred and encouraged by her mother, Kapi, the Bradenton native outlasted the small-minded ridicule, earned her Captain’s License at 18, established her own fishing brand, and channeled her frustration into an motivation.
Not only did she prove her critics wrong by winning her first tournament before she could drive, Whitfield went on to build an inshore charter service and launch a television show that chronicles her work in hosting differently abled kids that might not otherwise get to experience the thrill of bending a rod.
In 2022, Whitfield debuted Their Life, My Lens, a fishing program produced by Outdoor America and available on multiple streaming apps. Aboard her 21-foot Yellowfin boat, custom built to accommodate child size wheelchairs, she films eight episodes each year and mostly focuses on kids with physical and/or developmental challenges.
The Backstory
As Whitfield explained, “Their Life, My Lens,” is the media vehicle for Chastenation, the non-profit she started at 18. Now 25, Whitfield has a well-established reputation for motivational speaking, benevolence and charitable support.
Right after winning her first tournament, she donated her winnings back to the charity-based event. Whitfield would go on to organize an all-girl tournament team named “For A Cause,” which competed in charitable events with the goal of winning money that they could return to the tournament’s stated cause.
Since her teens, Whitfield has visited schools, churches and Girl Scout meetings to teach basic fishing lessons. These public appearances often yield opportunities for one-on-one interactions that allow Whitfield to share her perspectives on social media and bullying.
Prior graduating high school, Whitfield was recruited by Savannah College of Art and Design to compete on the all-girls college bass fishing team. Earning a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in TV and Film provided the tools to conceive and construct the TV show, through which she focuses on her guests’ abilities, rather than their disabilities.
A Vision Emerges
While official non-profit status is only available once a person turns 18, Whitfield actually started taking kids fishing when she was 16. Each outing was meaningful, but one particular interaction proved transformative.
“I was doing a fishing camp on one of the local piers and this little boy rolls up in a wheelchair,” Whitfield recalls. “He was 4 years old and he had spina bifida. He was the only boy on that pier catching fish.
“He was doing donuts in his wheelchair and saying, ‘Miss Chasten, I caught a fish! I caught a fish!’”
Impressed with the boy’s enthusiasm, Whitfield suggested they get him onto a boat for an expanded angling experience. The boy’s response was both heart wrenching and motivating.
“He said, ‘No, I have to fish off the dock because I don’t fit in a boat,’” Whitfield said. “I was 16 and my boat, at the time, was small, so I found one of my friends who was a charter captain whose boat was big enough to fit a wheel chair.
“We took that young boy fishing July 4, 2016, before the waters go too crowded, and he caught so many snapper, we called him the ‘Snapper Master.’”
Relating the tale with crystal clarity, as if it happened a week ago, Whitfield said the experience of watching fishing’s uplifting power literally defined her future course.
“He was a little scared (on the boat), but the minute he started catching fish, you could see his confidence build, “Whitfield said. “Toward the end of the trip, he said, ‘We can go fast now. I said, ‘Are you sure?’ and he said, ‘Yep, and I want to drive the boat.’
“His mom got him out of the wheelchair and got him behind the console so he could steer a little bit. I was so cool, because when he first got in the boat, he was timid and shy and when he caught fish, it boosted his confidence that much.”
Reflecting her own takeaway, Whitfield said: “That’s what really hooked me. I was like, ‘You know what, I think I want to do this for the rest of my life. This is pretty cool, and I haven’t stopped.”
All About the Kids
Whitfield grew up around the fishing/boating industry, so she knows her stuff. However, she’s quick to point out that every episode of “Their Story, My Lens” represents a personal learning experience.
“They teach me more than I teach them,” Whitfield said. “They teach me life lessons, I just teach them how to fish.”
Admittedly, Whitfield has wrestled with the mindset of a charter captain pursuing maximum productivity vs. that of someone pursuing maximum smiles.
“I tend to stress myself out, because when I take a kid fishing, I’m so focused on that kid,” she said. “Are they having fun? Are they okay? Is it too hot? Is it too cold? Are they bored? Are they tired?
“I’m always running these scenarios through my head and I’m always worrying about if they’re having fun, but then I’ll look over and the kid is smiling, eating his snacks and having the best time. I’m like, ‘You’re right. We’re on a boat, this is awesome and I need to chill out.”
As Whitfield has learned, multiple metrics define a successful fishing trip, but none so clearly as the simple question: Did you enjoy the day?
“I want the kids to have fun; I don’t want them to catch a few fish and be so whupped they don’t want to fish anymore,” Whitfield said. “I don’t want it to be boring, so I tell them, ‘This is your day. Tell me if you’re getting tired.
“I also tell the parents, to let me know if they sense (their child) is getting tired and they want to go swimming, go to a sandbar or a beach, go find dolphins. Some kids just want to go fast, so I say, ‘We can absolutely go fast! Let’s turn the AC on and let’s keep going.”
Maximize the Experience
When she’s hosting one of her differently abled guests, Whitfield favors live scaled sardines (aka “whitebait) that she typically nets near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge spanning the mouth of Tampa Bay. An effective option for snook, trout and redfish, these baits also tempt small coastal sharks when older kids are up for a bigger challenge.
Along with the fishing fun, Whitfield weaves a handful of key lessons into her trips.
Patience Pays: Live baiting tends to have a short wait time, but sometimes, you gotta let the moment develop.
“Sometimes, the kids want to cast the bait and reel it back in, cast and reel it back in,” Whitfield said. “I tell them, ‘You have to leave the bait in the water, so it will swim in front of the big fish’s face and they’ll eat it.’”
Protect the Resource: In 2015, Whitfield caught a 178-pound tarpon, which, at the time, would have been an International Gamefish Association all-tackle Junior (female) record. Whitfield received an IGFA catch certification, but she declined the opportunity to set an official world record, because she chose to live release the magnificent giant.
She stresses the same stewardship ethics with her tackle choice: “I use circle hooks because they’re conservation-friendly (less chance of deep hooking) and kid-friendly. The kids don’t have to set the hook; all they have to do is reel.”
Live the Moment: Stressing the therapeutic benefits of truly embracing the fishing experience, Whitfield tells her guests to let loose and let their soul sing.
“I tell them, ‘If you do get a fish, reel and scream like crazy,’” Whitfield said. “I tell them to use their outside voices and scream and hoot and holler as loud as they want.
“Some people think you have to be very quiet in certain areas, but I tell them, ‘I want everyone to know you’re catching a fish!’”
Because fishing is for everyone.
