Chasten Whitfield's Kid-Friendly Techniques
The great thing about fishing is that the fish do not know, nor do they care who’s on the other end of the line. Capt. Chasten Whitfield agrees, in principle, but she actually does care who’s on her end of the line.
For the Bradenton, Florida charter captain, that premise prompted an ambitious venture to create a television program called “Their Life, My Lens.” Produced by Outdoor America and available on several streaming apps, the show follows Whitfield’s angling interaction with differently abled guests.
The media extension of her Chasten Nation non-profit organization, the show comprises eight episodes a year, each presenting an uplifting look at the rod-bending camaraderie Whitfield shares with her special guests. Most are 16 or younger, so she schedules each trip with a solid mix of tidal timing and proper pacing.
“Keeping it simple is a big thing,” Whitfield said. “I want the kids to have fun. I don’t want them to be so whupped they don’t want to go again.”
Given her focus on crafting a day that’s right for each of her guests, Whitfield’s website best captures the theme with this description: “The ONLY fishing show where we show their ABILITIES not their DISABILITIES!”
Focus on the Fun
Mostly fishing the Bradenton to Lower Tampa Bay waters, Whitfield blends fishing lessons with a focus on fun. She wants her guests to catch fish, but everyone’s preferences and tolerances are different, so personalizing the day trumps filling a cooler.
Whitfield has over a decade of inshore and coastal fishing experience, so she understands the finer points of staying on the fish. That being said, she also realizes there’s nothing more important than sending her guests home with a smile.
“I tell them: ‘This is your day. You’re the captain of the boat; I just drive it.”
Whether that means pacing the day with frequent snack breaks, splashing in the shallows, or looking for manatees and dolphins, Whitfield happily accommodates.
The Right Tools
With attention spans often a little too short for artificials, Whitfield keeps her guests engaged and entertained with the typically dependable live bait routine. Before meeting her guests at the dock, she’ll hit the local bait Meccas — often the Sunshine Skyway Bridge — to fill her livewell with scaled sardines (aka “pilchards”’ or “whitebait”).
The circle hook favors novice-level anglers, as long as they heed the captain’s instructions to respond to a bite simply by steadily reeling. A Mustad Demon Circle Hook firmly latches a fish’s mouth, so Whitfield keeps her Mustad Premium Aluminum Fishing Pliers handy for dehooking.
Whitfield also carries the Mustad Braid Scissors for rigging her 7-foot medium fast spinning outfits with 17-pound braid and 20-pound fluorocarbon leaders. A Mustad 7" Filet Knife comes in handy for cut bait tactics and for cleaning keepers for a fresh fish dinner.
No doubt, the right tackle and tools make a big impact on a person’s fishing day, but kindness and compassion can make an impact on their life. To this end, Chasten Whitfield is committed to making lifetime memories, one cast at a time.
For more on Chasten Whitfield’s fishing activities, visit https://theirlifemylens.com