Bradenton’s Chasten Whitfield overcomes bullying to become fishing role model for kids

She’s fished her entire life, but it wasn’t until middle school when Bradenton’s Chasten Whitfield received flak for her passion.

But Whitfield, a Manatee High senior, didn’t let the taunting and bullying prevent her from continuing her fishing hobby.

Now Whitfield has turned that hobby into a way to give back.

On Tuesday at Palmetto’s Emerson Point Park, Whitfield demonstrated how to throw a cast net to roughly 30 kids who participated in the University of Florida’s Manatee County Extension Service to learn about marine life and other outdoor educational items.

“I talk ‘kid,’ is what people say,” Whitfield said. “So I guess I’m good at talking ‘kid.’ ”

Whitfield was in her element on this day, guiding the kids on the proper technique to throw a cast net and demonstrating her proficient methods. Additionally, Whitfield teaches kids how to use fishing rods and how to tie knots, and she uses fish games to engaged the kids even more.

Whitfield’s expertise was attained throughout her life.

The Whitfield family lived near the water, so it made sense for Chasten to develop an interest in fishing, and it became a became a passion.

As a seventh grader at King Middle, though, Chasten started feeling the resentment for fishing from other classmates.

Consequently, Whitfield didn’t have many friends and was shy in school.

Then her mother told her she should compete in a fishing tournament. Whitfield won first place but didn’t collect the prize money. Instead, she donated the funds to the Children’s Burn Camp charity.

Whitfield said those kids, who are burn victim survivors, needed it more than she did.

Since that 2013 tournament, Whitfield has expanded to teaching kids how to fish, produced a website — chastenwhitfield.com — and raised awareness for children’s charities through television appearances and tournament winnings that are donated.

To date, she’s raised roughly $28,000 for various charities such as the Burn Camp of Florida, Face Autism and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

“I would not have expected myself to be here,” Whitfield said when asked about how far she’s come since she started.

Whitfield is aiming to graduate from Manatee High in December and attend the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia.

She said she wants to major in TV production with a minor in advertising with the goal of having her own TV show to continue spreading her message.

But before all that, Whitfield taught the campers Tuesday at Emerson Point Park.

And now she’s become a role model for younger kids, especially girls who aspire to become anglers like her.

“She’s younger and they can relate to her real well,” UF/IFAS Manatee County extension marine biologist Angela Collins said. “It’s a great example for the girls, too.”

This story was originally published August 9, 2017 at 1:58 PM with the headline "Bradenton’s Chasten Whitfield overcomes bullying to become fishing role model for kids."