Standing on the bow of a boat, I grip a fishing rod and scan the horizon. Suddenly, the reel zings to life and the rod tip bends. My heart pounds like a jackhammer. Could it be the big one?

I've always dreamed of landing a fish worthy of a tale. As a kid, I grew up catching bream the size of my hand, but the big ones eluded me. This summer, I decided to turn my dream into a reality on the Treasure Coast, an off-the-radar spot known by locals as a haven for sport fishermen and anglers of all abilities.

From Sebastian to Stuart, the tri-county area of St. Lucie, Indian River and Martin counties offers anglers a variety of excursions, including freshwater fishing and deep-sea adventures. Every cast is a hope; fish caught on the Treasure Coast have made world-record books.

Armed with sunscreen and high hopes, my quest begins.
The line rockets out of the reel like an Olympic sprinter. The fish thrashes through the air, and everyone gasps: it's a 70-pound sailfish that's about eight feet long.


Day one: St. Lucie County

The sun is rising when I arrive in Fort Pierce, in St. Lucie County. Captain David King, owner of Little Adam Charters and co-host of the fishing show "Light Tackle Angler," welcomes me aboard a 29-foot Twin Vee. We cruise through the calm waters of Fort Pierce Inlet to find a spot to anchor and try our luck.

Within minutes of casting, the first fish of the day tugs the line. It's a jack crevalle, about one pound. Though it's not exactly the big one I am hoping for, at least it's a start.

Soon after, the second fish bites and darts away from the boat, taking more than a hundred feet of line. For 10 minutes, I work to bring in a 15-pound bonita. At the moment, it's the biggest fish I've ever caught.

"Attagirl!" a crew member shouts.

Next, we head out into the Atlantic Ocean to try a new spot, and before long, my reel zings again. The captain straps a fighting belt around my waist, which keeps the rod in place. Adrenaline courses through my veins. The fish surfaces, and my jaw drops: it's a 25-pound black tip shark.

"You never know what you're going to catch out here," the charismatic captain says. Between catches, he keeps me smiling with fishing songs he improvises.

By lunchtime, I've snagged 10 fish of a half-dozen different species, including several 10-pound kingfish. With a fast-paced beginning like this, I itch to head out the next day.


Day two: Indian River County

The following morning, I meet Captain Jack Jackson, a guide with Vero Tackle & Marina in Indian River County.

We board an 18-foot Maverick and glide through Indian River Lagoon, touted as North America's most diverse estuary.

The lagoon is home to more than 375 varieties of fish, Jackson says. "If you're a fisherman, this area is heaven."

We stop under a bridge, and the captain from Kentucky says fish often hang out near structures. As if to prove his point, a fish hits the line and makes for the bridge fender. Jackson maneuvers the boat closer with a trolling motor, and I reel in snook, followed by jack and mangrove snapper.

Using live shrimp as bait, we try casting near the mangroves, then move into shallower water for flats fishing. All the while, the area's natural beauty soothes me. A manatee floats serenely past us. Dolphins frolic in our boat's wake. Birds fly overhead.


Day three: Martin County

My third morning, I hope to put my newly acquired fishing knowledge to use. I am one of 25 people on the 62-foot Lady Stuart I, a deep-sea fishing boat in Martin County. The family-owned company also runs a boat out of Fort Pierce.

As we head six miles offshore, I bait my hook with squid and wait for the signal.

"All right guys, go get 'em!" Captain Chris Denise announces after we stop, and I drop my line over the side.

The energy on board is electric, and anglers exchange high-fives and joyful shouts whenever a fish is caught. We land vermillion snapper, black sea bass and kingfish, to name a few.

An hour into the trip, something bites the captain's hook, and he hands me the rod. So begins the battle of my dreams.

The line rockets out of the reel like an Olympic sprinter. The fish thrashes through the air, and everyone gasps: it's a 70-pound sailfish that's about eight feet long. Now I'm getting schooled in why Stuart's known as the sailfish capital of the world.

"That thing is a smoker!" the captain shouts. I brace myself against the metal railing and clench the rod. The sailfish takes 50 yards of line, then 100, then 150, then…

Snap!

The line breaks. Now it will simply be known as the one that got away.

That evening over grilled kingfish, I take stock of my three-day adventure. Though the sailfish escaped me, I still landed dozens of fish, some bigger than I've ever caught before, including a 25-pound shark, 15-pound bonita and 12-pound kingfish.

Know what else I caught? The fishing bug. I can't wait to return to the Treasure Coast. And next time, I will get the big one.

For more information on planning a trip to the Treasure Coast, contact the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce (772-567-3491 or www.indianriverchamber.com), the St. Lucie County Tourist Development Council (800-344-TGIF or www.visitstluciefla.com) and the Martin County Convention & Visitors Bureau (877-585-0085 or www.martincountyfla.com).