Some people fish to catch fish. Scotty Wasson fishes to witness something — the stillness before a topwater explosion, the golden hour light breaking across the Neuse, a father and son sharing the moment a rod bends for the first time. As a charter captain and a professional photographer, Scotty has a rare gift: he understands that what happens on the water deserves to be remembered.
Scotty served in the United States Marine Corps from 2005 to 2018 as an Aviation Ordnanceman. After leaving active duty, he spent time as a machinist and in home improvement — but something was missing. “I felt caged in, disconnected,” he reflects. So he stepped out in faith and launched STW Charter Service LLC, now known as STW Outdoors, offering guided fishing trips, eco tours, and coastal duck hunts across Eastern North Carolina.
But Scotty didn’t stop there. Wanting to capture not just the action but the testimony, he enrolled in photography classes and launched Faith in Focus by STW — a photography practice built around family portraits, sports photography, wildlife, and the kind of outdoor moments that define life on the Crystal Coast. Every shoot, he says, is a chance to honor something greater.
Guided by Proverbs 3:6 — “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths” — Scotty brings his faith into everything he does on the water and behind the lens. Whether he’s guiding a charter at sunrise or documenting a family’s day on the sound, his mission is the same: slow down, breathe deep, and truly see the blessings around you.
The Neuse River has been Scotty’s proving ground. July 2025 brought scorching temperatures — and a red drum bite on fire to match. Big blues bent rods. Topwater explosions lit up sunrises. Scotty guided families, veterans, and first-timers through it all, chasing the feeling only fishing can give. August shifted the focus to Old Drum — the Neuse River giants that are, in Scotty’s words, “mean, powerful, and unforgettable once you hook into one.”
As a Trusty Sail & Paddle Pro Staff member, Scotty bridges two worlds that rarely overlap: the technical rigor of a working charter captain and the artist’s eye of someone who sees every outing as a composition. He keeps his kayak rigged for fishing but always has a lens within reach. The Crystal Coast, after all, doesn’t wait for you to get ready.
Follow Scotty’s work and adventures at stwoutdoors.com or on Instagram @STW_OUTDOORS — and if you want to get on the water with one of the most versatile outdoorsmen on the Eastern NC coast, reach out and book a trip.
