Thinking Fishy with DOA Lures founder Mark Nichols

Flounder on a DOA shrimp for Mark Nichols

DOA baitbuster and DOA shrimp rigged and ready

Recreational fishing is one of the great American freedoms that anglers pursue with a passion. Unfortunately, only those who work in the industry get to go fishing as much as they'd like. So when Captain Mark Nichols creates his DOA Lures he keeps the average angler’s quest for fishing success in mind. These soft plastic baits are made in the USA and branded Deadly On Anything. Growing up in Texas, Nichols' uncle and father ran shrimp boats in Galveston Bay, Matagorda and the Gulf of Mexico. In 1989, he took the observations from his youth into account when he set out to create his own fishing lure. The result was the launch of one of the most successful and often copied artificial shrimp on the market. Residing in Stuart, Florida near the St. Lucie Inlet, Captain Nichols is fortunate to test his lures against large trout and snook, plus more seasonal species that migrate through. The fishing success has been muted during the summer of 2013, and many locals observe that tainted runoff from nearby Lake Okeechobee is filtering down the St. Lucie River and harming the grass beds that attract and hold bait and fish. Nature and fishing have always been therapy in life for Nichols. When not spending time with wife Jenny and their dog Morris, Nichols can be found fishing. On a deeper note, Nichols offers a positive example to those fortunate enough to fish with him, and I for one am grateful for his counsel and guidance.

Mark Nichols wading the flats for snook and trout

To view the rest of my feature article on Marck Nichols click All At Sea.

To view blog entries from the 14th D.O.A. Outdoor Writers event click here.

Fishing with Mark Nichols and DOA in 2013 
was a hard luck experience due to tainted waters