12th annual D.O.A. Outdoors Writer's Event / Video

Captain Mark Nichols of D.O.A Fishing lures hosted the 12th annual D.O.A. Outdoor Writer's Festival in Jensen Beach at River Palms Cottages. The entire D.O.A. staff turned up to make the guest writers and fishing guides feel like a part of the D.O.A. extended family. The normally scorching Florida weather was tempered by a steady week of afternoon thunderstorms that served to keep anglers underneath the tiki hut during the welcome reception. Sponsors from Flambeau, Hummingbird, Shimano, Eagle Claw, Costa, Hobie and more were on hand to demonstrate their latest gear before the ICAST trade show coming up in July. Captain Blair Wiggins and his S-curve rods were on hand to teach others how to use a D.O.A. terror eyes lure to catch a permit. Basically, you cast it to the fish and then you 'dead stick' the rod so that the lure does not produce any unnatural motion to spook the permit. After a day of fishing anglers reported large trout, pretty redfish, sneaky snook, feisty bluefish and even a tarpon in the Indian River and St. Lucie Rivers. The happy hour after fishing affords everyone a chance to download and show off their fish photos and / or tell their stories about D.O.A. lures success, which was followed by a butterfly shrimp dinner. I've always said that a good fishing trip is best enjoyed with a good meal, and the D.O.A. camp director Jerry McBride deserves credit for making sure everyone ate well. New faces were welcomed into D.O.A. camp while old friendships were renewed among past participants, and all of them can appreciate a 'boss man' like Mark Nichols to lovingly teach them how to be a better angler!!!

For blog coverage from the 11th annual DOA camp click here.

To read my feature article in the Charleston Mercury click here.

PhotoByJeffDennis: Capt. Willy Le of Native Fly Charters shows off his redfish caught on a D.O.A. baitbuster. Le likes his Wang Anchor system which carries a motto of 'hang out with your wang out.' Needless to say I mainly kept to the bow of his Maverick boat!!

PhotoByJeffDennis: The new D.O.A. Denali shirt with spf 50 is the shizzy and Capt. Willy Le is all set to make a cast that is Deadly On Anything!!

PhotoByCapt.WillyLe: Jeff with a beast of a blue fish that blew up his baitbuster lure!!

PhotoByCapt.DonMooney: A nice Indian River trout caught from a grass bed on a D.O.A. Cal

VideoByJeffDennis: Capt. Willy Le of Cocoa Beach reels in a redfish with authority