If you fish and spend any time on social media, you’re probably familiar with Fat Cat Newton. He’s a mountain man from Virginia who’s known for his silly, lighthearted, often self-deprecating sense of humor.
Although not for everyone, Fat Cat’s online antics have earned him a strong and loyal following. His Facebook, Instagram and YouTube videos attract big numbers of viewers — all curious as to what he’ll come up with next.
Normally I shy away from internet personalities, especially those trying to make a name for themselves through outrageous behavior. But Fat Cat is different. His humor is clean, and it delivers a message … a message of humility — something this sport could use more of.
Sometimes we take ourselves too seriously. Through levity, he knocks those full of themselves off their pedestals … me included.
Alley cat beginnings
Fat Cat Newton was born on Sept. 1, 1978 in White Oak, Va., into a humble family of commercial fishermen. His dad and uncles harvested blue crabs and catfish from the Potomac River, and he says much of his childhood was spent with them on the water.
“When I was 5 or 6 years old, I’d go with Uncle ‘Froggy’ Newton, calling out crab pot numbers as he worked his line. In the evenings, I’d be back on the water with my pops catching catfish and white perch.”
Cat and a childhood buddy use to dream about having their own tackle shop, wanting to call it “Fat Cat’s.” Much later, when he decided to develop a character for social media, he took that name.
By following his online persona, you can see how well it fits.
“At an early age, I learned quick wit could fend off a lot of the fat jokes,” he confides. “I’d poke fun at myself before anyone else had the chance. In doing that, I could avoid any awkwardness while making some people laugh.”
No boundaries
Nowadays — aside from himself — Newton frequently targets other high-profile figures in fishing. Guys like Randy Howell, Shaw Grigsby, Fish Fishburne, Denny Brauer and Gerald Swindle — anyone with a following that he feels might make a good target.
It may be that person’s physical characteristics, the way they walk, talk, dress or even how they set a hook. Whatever he feels sets them apart, that makes them vulnerable and plays into his routine. In a world besieged with political correctness that might offend some. But because Fat’s so critical of himself, it’s hard to hold it against him. As he says, “It’s all meant in good fun.”
And though he may pick on fishing’s elite, Newton has a deep respect for them, too.
“I think the biggest misconception in this sport is that being a professional angler is easy,” he concludes. “It’s not. It’s full of heartbreak, disappointment, regret, time from family and maxed out credit cards. That’s not for me. I tell everyone I’m much better at running my lips than ripping lips.”
Love him or not, Fat Cat Newton is comfortable with who he is and how he comes across. He reminds us that life is short and that we sometimes take ourselves too seriously.
As he puts it, he’s “just keepin’ it real.”
