‘I’m excited to be that vessel:’ South Mississippi man to offer fishing charter for individuals with disabilities

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (WXXV) — What would the Mississippi Coast be without fishing? It’s a hobby, a job and a passion for many who take to the area’s waters.

One Coast man is using this passion to fulfill a much bigger purpose: making sure that people of all abilities have a chance to hit the open water with a fishing pole.

“We have opportunities here to maybe help these disabled kids — or adults, it doesn’t matter — to feel a fish and catch their own fish,” Dana Sanders of What’s Next Fishing Charters said.

Sanders is more than just the captain of his own fishing charter company. He’s also a father to 20-year-old Jason, an avid outdoorsman who has cerebral palsy.

While many boats aren’t easily accessible to those with disabilities, the Sanders family’s boat — called Jason’s Joy — is different. It was donated by a Louisiana man with a big heart, and following some modifications, it now easily fits Jason’s wheelchair.

“We went and got this boat, brought it here to Gautier, took it to a friend of mine — Joey Furlan at Furlan’s Marine — and Joey helped me configure this boat to fit Jason’s needs,” Sanders explained.

Soon, Jason’s Joy will be able to accommodate individuals of all different abilities. Starting this October, Sanders will be offering a disabled charter so that everyone can make memories on the water. With a manual wheelchair that he purchased from a garage sale and a battery operated reel, the opportunities to make an impact are endless.

“[The boat] was gifted to us for a purpose, and I’m getting to understand what that purpose is,” Sanders said. “I’m really excited about the opportunity and I love to fish, and I love to take people fishing, especially those that can’t maybe do it on their own.”

Community members have also found a way to chip in, even if they aren’t stepping foot on the boat themselves. Sanders says that many people have reached out to donate so that finances aren’t an issue for someone who wants to finally have the chance to be out on the water.

“I’ve got several people lined up,” Sanders explained. “They say, ‘I can’t be a part, but I want to pay somebody’s way.’ So we have that opportunity. If there’s someone out there that says, ‘Well I’d love to do it, but I don’t have 500 dollars,’ we have that covered.”

Through the excitement that has come from announcing the disabled fishing charter, Sanders has remained committed to his cause. He’s looking to continue to serve his purpose on the Coast, one charter at a time.

“I’m just the vessel, right? But I’m excited to be that vessel.”