Competitive deepwater angler Jaselyn Berthelot found herself walking a different kind of stage last week — the red carpet at the 2025 ESPY Awards in Los Angeles.

Known for her success on the offshore tournament circuit, Berthelot was invited as a guest to the nationally televised event, becoming the first competitive offshore angler to receive such recognition.

“First, I just couldn’t believe what I had heard,” Berthelot said of the phone call that changed everything. “Then immediately after, I thought about having to find a dress in only a few days. It was just unreal. I was happy to be the first person to represent the sport at something of this level.”

It’s a level the young angler has been steadily working toward for years. Known for her ability to handle the physical and mental demands of high-level offshore competition, she’s a constant on leaderboards — often the only female angler on the boats or in the field. But rather than shy away from that distinction, she’s embraced it.

That visibility is something Berthelot doesn’t take lightly. As a rising star in a sport that often goes overlooked, she saw the ESPYs as more than just a night of glitz and glamor — it was a chance to put offshore fishing in the national spotlight.

“Being the first deepwater competitive angler invited to the ESPYs is a huge honor and a major step forward for our sport,” she said. “Offshore fishing is intense, strategic and takes serious grit, but it’s often overlooked. This moment brings visibility to what we do and proves it deserves a place on the big stage.”

Berthelot has always looked up to athletes who’ve carved out their own space in less mainstream sports, so mingling with them at the ESPYs was a full-circle moment.

“Someone I met specifically was Ilona Maher (women’s rugby Olympian and 2025 ESPY winner for Best Breakthrough Athlete),” she said. “She was so amazing to meet, and I’ve been watching her excel in her niche sport and be such a huge voice for all of the female athletes out there.”

Back home, Berthelot is used to days that start before sunrise and end well after dark — but even by her standards, the ESPY week was nonstop. On top of walking the red carpet, she was balancing her regular tournament grind and appearances tied to the sportfishing industry.

“So, I found out I got invited to the ESPYS on Thursday of last week while heading out for the Blue Marlin Grand Championship,” she explained. “After the tournament, we went home on Sunday and left again Monday to go to ICAST (trade show) in Orlando. Wednesday, we got on another flight to get to LA, and after the awards and afterparty we packed our stuff and headed straight back to LAX and left on a redeye to Corpus Christi to fish the next tournament. We landed at 9:30 and shotgun start was at 11 a.m. We made it with 10 minutes to spare.”

MAKING HER OWN MOLD

Berthelot thrives in the chaos. Her schedule mirrors her approach to fishing: always all-in. Whether she’s running a trolling spread 100 miles offshore or slipping into a cocktail dress with minutes to spare, she’s prepared for the extremes.

"We had some situations with our bags, so I actually ended up doing my makeup on the airport floor to ensure I could be ready in time," she said. "We got to the hotel, I did my hair and final touches and headed to the red carpet. It was so cool being amongst all the athletes and seeing and meeting people I’ve been watching since I was a little girl.”

Last fall, Berthelot was featured on the cover of Beachin' magazine, a Gulf Coast Media publication that highlighted her rising influence and authentic voice in a male-dominated sport. The feature dove into her journey from Gulf waters to national tournaments and her efforts to encourage more young women to pick up a rod and step onto the boat. Her message has always been clear — there's space for everyone in the sport.

“For young women and girls, I hope this shows that there’s room for them in this space. Not someday, but now,” she said. “You don’t have to fit a mold to belong here. If you love the water and you’re willing to work hard, there’s a place for you. I’m proud to help pave the way for the next generation.”

Though she’s small in stature, Berthelot regularly battles fish five to six times her size — including massive blue marlin that can weigh over 600 pounds and record-size tuna. Her success offshore is a testament to her strength, endurance and technical skill, showing that dominance in the sport has nothing to do with size.