The sixth annual fishing trip, organized by the United Special Sportsman Alliance (USSA), took place on Lake Wateree in Ridgeway, South Carolina. The event featured twenty-one boats and attracted forty-two enthusiastic young anglers, many of whom were experiencing the thrill of fishing for the first time.
After the families checked into the Holiday Inn, they were taken to the Richburg Fire Department for dinner. The children buzzed with excitement as they searched for their names at the tables and met their captains. Following a summary of the next day’s schedule by Justin Whiteside, a beautiful prayer was offered. Everyone then enjoyed a meet-and-greet pizza party.
Julian, one of the parents, remarked, “To get everyone into the spirit of the trip, the next morning, they handed out special shirts to commemorate the event and hats for all the kids. They ran around and were excited about the entire occasion, and this was just the precursor to the fishing itself! There was so much laughter and so many smiles; I couldn’t help but beam with joy myself.”
Early the next morning, the families departed from their hotel, accompanied by a thirty-minute police escort to Lake Wateree Baptist Church in Ridgeway. The captains and volunteers eagerly awaited their arrival and greeted them with enthusiasm. After a heartfelt prayer, the families boarded the boats with their captains and headed to their favorite fishing spots, filled with anticipation and excitement. It was hard to tell who was more thrilled—the children or the fishermen.
Jason, the father of Jonathan, 12, and Jordyn, 10, said, “Captain Jarrett and his wife were very welcoming and dedicated. They had scouted the fishing hotspots beforehand, and within the first 10 minutes of anchoring, Jonathan caught the first blue catfish of the day. Our boat alone brought in nine fish of various sizes that day. We live on the coast in Charleston, but the memories we made on Lake Wateree will last a lifetime.”
Felicity, who is 13, went fishing with her dad. She exclaimed, “It was a great fishing trip!” We caught about 11 or 12 catfish, and the overall experience was fantastic. The captains were nice and friendly, which made the trip ten times better. We stayed at a nice hotel, and the treatment we received throughout the trip was excellent.”
Julian remarked, “Captain Eli was incredibly patient and an excellent teacher when it comes to the technique of guiding catfish fishing. He taught my sons, Wes and Alexander, how to read the depth finder and locate fish, as well as when and how to set the hook when they felt a bite. My boys almost caught a catfish that Eli estimated weighed around 30 pounds, but it managed to spit out the hook near the boat. Then, Wes successfully caught a blue catfish weighing about 9 pounds. I can’t emphasize enough how much we all enjoyed the fishing experience and his company! The boys were enamored by his fishing stories and the pictures of the fish he had helped others catch as a guide.”
Andraya shared, “My sons, Keegan and Kimahia, and I had an incredible time on the boat. Although my son Keegan couldn’t pick a favorite moment, he exclaimed that the entire experience was awesome! It was their first time being out on the water, and our wonderful captains, Tommy and Wendy, truly made the adventure unforgettable. We enjoyed the thrill of catching a catfish and a striper, which added to the excitement of our day on the lake.”
Ryan expressed, “My family’s fishing trip was a ton of fun! Trent particularly enjoyed the firetrucks and the pizza party. The hotel room was a hit, and the breakfast buffet the next morning was a favorite. Trent even went on his first boat ride with Captain Mike, Captain Dale, and Captain Destin! Captain Mike let him drive the boat and blow the horn, which Trent found exciting. He also had fun touching the bait fish and learned that catfish have boogers. The highlight of Trent’s weekend was catching a catfish, which he named Bobby.”
Jan shared, “Austin and I had a wonderful time on Captain Wesley Whitting’s boat. “Although we were very excited about the trip, we accidentally overslept that morning, and we are so grateful to Wesley for waiting for us. My favorite part of the trip was making new friends and reeling in a huge catfish that I could hardly hold up by myself! Both Austin and I felt blessed to have caught the biggest fish ever.”
Thomas’s mother, Jennifer, said, “It started slowly, then he caught a small catfish and got super excited! We tried a few spots with little luck, and Captain Eric joked that Thomas didn’t kiss the bait. He also told Thomas that Barney the Dinosaur had a house on the lake, which made him laugh. When we reached Barney’s supposedly purple house, Thomas started catching lots of fish. He thought it was because of Barney! At one point, while catching a fish, another one bit! Captain Eric showed him how to reel in the big fighting fish, and even when he doubted he could handle one, with encouragement, he successfully reeled it in all by himself. These moments are some of the most incredible for us as his parents! Thomas has faced many challenges and has overcome incredible odds. It’s amazing to see his pure joy when he catches a fish. Despite being told there were things he couldn’t do, this trip proved that he could, would, and did succeed.
Kenzie said, “Jax had an amazing time! He told our captain that he wanted to catch a monster fish, and the first one they caught was just that—a big monster! He couldn’t believe how heavy it was. On the way home, Jax said it was the best fishing trip ever. We’re so glad he had that experience! Captain Chris Merritt added, “Jax got his personal best. A catfish weighing over 20 pounds. It was a great day on the water. God is good!”
After an exhilarating five-hour fishing trip, the families and the captains returned to shore to enjoy a delicious lunch. The children were thrilled to receive their own fishing rods and tackle boxes, adding to the day’s excitement. The radiant smiles on everyone’s faces clearly showed the positive impact this experience had on all participants.
Ryan added, “It is truly incredible and heartwarming to witness so many people being selfless by giving up their time on Friday nights and Saturdays. They generously donate hats and fishing gear and even allow the kids to use their boats and much of their equipment. All of this helps children who are facing difficulties feel special. It was an incredible experience!”
One of the traditions of the event is that if $2,000 is raised in donations, the kids get to shave Justin Whiteside’s head. This year, his son also participated in the fun, and the donations exceeded $4,000. The kids eagerly waited in line for their chance to give Justin the much-needed haircut. In the end, the ‘well-groomed’ Justin concluded the event by shaving his son’s hair as well.
We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to Justin Whiteside, USSA South Carolina Representative, the Captains, and the volunteer staff. Their unwavering dedication and hard work were instrumental in ensuring the event’s success. We are also deeply thankful to the Richburg Fire Department for their support. Additionally, we appreciate the generous donors and sponsors whose ongoing financial contributions make it possible for us to host this popular, annual fishing event!
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the families for their great catch of fish and the beautiful memories made with their Captains. This fantastic event truly highlighted the strength of the community and the joy that comes from giving selflessly. God bless!
If your family is interested in attending the 2026 fishing event, please contact the United Special Sportsman Alliance at (800) 518-8019 or [email protected].