"He's spooling me!" There was a touch of panic in Joe Landreneau's voice. We were wading along an oyster bar in the Indian River when Joe hooked up to a fish that took off like a freight train. Joe waded after it as fast as the waist deep water would allow, but it's hard to hurry any time the water is that deep. Paul Hobby and I hustled back to Hobby's skiff, dropped the electric motor, and gave chase. We overtook Joe and hauled him into the boat. He started regaining some badly needed line. It was nip and tuck for a few tense moments, since only three or four turns of line remained on his reel spool.

The southern end of the Indian River between Fort Pierce Inlet and St. Lucie Inlet offers the fisherman some of the finest light tackle action in Florida. Every desirable inshore species can be caught there. Snook, seatrout, and jacks commonly reach trophy proportions. Tarpon, permit, redfish, snapper, pompano, and sharks are some other species an angler can reasonably expect to catch.

As an example, the recent DOA Writers Festival brought together some of the best inshore guides and writers in the state for a weekend at River Palms Cottages and Fish Camp in Jensen Beach. My wife Susan and I had the pleasure of fishing with Capt. Marcia Foosaner the first morning. Marsha took us to a shallow grass flat just of the Intracoastal Waterway as the first streaks of daylight touched the sky. The bait was thick and terrified, continuously flying skyward, trying to escape hungry predators below. An hour and a half of wading and casting DOA Shrimp brought a dozen trout to hand, the smallest over 20 inches and the largest over six pounds. Several strikes were missed, and several hooked fish were lost, or our score would have been even better.

That afternoon back at the fish camp the fishermen exchanged stories over cold beverages. Capt. Rufus Wakeman's fishermen got eight permit at the St. Lucie Inlet. Capt. Rick Grassett caught the biggest crevalle of his life, a 21 pound monster. Mel Berman caught a 60 pound tarpon. Capt. Mike Keefe got a 20 pound snook. Others had similar experiences. All these fish were caught on DOA lures and all were caught within a few miles of each other.

On day two I found myself aboard Hobby's skiff with Capt. Paul Hobby, a guide who fishes Charlotte Harbor, and Joe Landreneau, who had done the cooking for the event. Hobby was trying to take us to a flat he had been told about. He'd never been there before and it was dark, making navigation somewhat of a challenge. "I think this is it," Paul finally said, a touch of exasperation in his voice. "We're fishing here whether it's the right place or not."

So we donned our wading shoes and hopped out into the warm water. Mullet flipped placidly, all too happy for my taste. We cast DOA Shrimp all along the length of an oyster bar, Hobby and I going one way and Joe going the other. We cast for fifteen minutes, watching it get light, getting no strikes. Signs of big fish were nil. "There's nothing here, Paul," I said, hoping he'd have another idea. "Sorry, I have no backup plan," replied Mr. Hobby. "I don't know my way around here."

A moment later it became academic. Hobby's rod doubled over, quickly followed by my own. We had a double on trout in the 20 inch range, fish we continued to catch for the next hour. Jacks, ladyfish, a snook, and a small grouper were in the mix. I got a five pounder as close as my feet, only to have it shake off. Several tarpon rolled, just out of casting range. We were too busy to watch Joe, who was catching a few fish of his own.

After an hour the action slowed as quickly as it had begun. Paul and I were heading back to the boat, ready to try another spot, when Joe shouted, "He's spooling me!" In spite of the high drama Joe got his fish, a magnificent 24 pound snook. After posing for a few photos the fish swam away. Joe had bragging rights that afternoon at the fish camp, a happy ending to our last day there.

This section of the Indian River arguably has the best fishing in Florida. Give it a try and see for yourself.

Where to Stay - There are many Mom and Pop motels along Indian River Drive in Jensen Beach, but I highly recommend Rufus Wakeman's River Palms Cottages and Fish Camp. The camp is right on the river, so you can catch fish right behind your efficiency. Just wade out to them! An authentic Seminole Indian thatched roof chickee hut, hammocks swaying in the trees, barbecue grills, cable TV, and a swimming pool all invite you to relax in the old Florida style. Fully guided fishing.