It's Fish Bucket Time

B-U-C-K-E-T - pronounced Bouquet

-and if you don't know that silly reference, you don't watch enough British Comedy

While the beach was sure pretty to look at yesterday, it was dangerous to set foot in. So OC my son came home and announced that he wanted to go fishing. Sigh. I've created a monster!

I did ask him if we could wait until the heat index dropped below 100, to which he said "yes". So at 430pm we packed up and hit the pier. I love that Pier! Long story short, it was a super evening of fishing. We had super company and great conversation. (ICK ALERT) We also rallied when a woman put a two in long tri-hook into her index finger! I steadied her, while the Florida Fish and Wildlife guy pushed the hook all the way through, and then used my pliers to cut off the barb and then back the hook out. Phew. POOR thing. We watched as she and her DH left the night of fishing for a tentus shot.

While we went out for Kings and Spanish, there were only a few to be found. One man did take home a 42" plus King. So we opted for bait fishing. I'd much rather be catching bait, than nothing at all. Boy did I put my foot in it with that comment! We caught over 80 fish in 2.5 hours! All hardtails, but for one ramoray and one 10 inch hyperactive Bonita. We were giving out bait fish as fast as we could pull it out of the water !

Last night's sunset was stunning, and the moon rise was glorious! It was big, full, and BRIGHT orange!

Y'all have a great and safe day!


A big HELLO to our new visitors from Brazil, Germany, Russia,  and Austrailia! WOW! We're popular there!

Good morning all !

It seems we had 7 views from Latvia last night! Interesting.  Labdien! Kā jums klājas?
Thunderstorms should be bopping around our area all day.  Strong winds from the south will keep the surf high, but it shouldn't be AS bad as it has been the past few days.  The Rip Current risk is still HIGH.  And as for an added bonus, the temps are going to start climbing again, mix in the higher humidities from a surface low pressure system, and we're going to start looking at heat indext temps near 110 again.  I know, I know, just keep telling yourself it's AUGUST in Florida. 

Coastal state waters offshore of Escambia County are now reopened for harvesting of finfish, crabs and shrimp, but NO to oysters.

BP clean up crews continue to patrol the beach.  Yesterday they worked from late afternoon until the weeeeeee hours of the morning.  They are watching for and cleaning up any old weathered tar that comes ashore from our latest high surf action.

While out last night, I saw amazing things again.  People in the water, with red flags flying, no lifeguards in the towers (after hours).  These were not just the surfers that come out with every storm, but families with small children.  I kept waiting to hear screaming over the roaring surf.  Thank goodness it never came.  They were lucky. I don't know what the solution is, but there has to be one.  Maybe if the flags were lower, like at some of the condos so they actually smack people in the head? Force them to take notice?  Probably not.  Ocean blindness.

Anyway, on this slow day, I leave you with some closing shots of Navarre Beach.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.  Perfection.

Little 10 inch bonita.  You should have SEEN the number of baby sharks caught last night! I stopped counting at 10 in one hour.

WOW! This old TD5 is a royal pain in the patootie!  Not only has it angered my arthritis and an inner ear condition, which makes me fairly grumpy and therefor not much fun to be around, but it doing a number on our beaches!

High and rough surf has been battering our beach for days! We've had winds from all directions this week but due West.  That will come later today/tonight.   I noticed what had been a quiet slope to the water's edge down by the pier is now a drop of 3 feet, and that was Saturday.  Today the ocean is really rocking again.  Winds are HOWLING out of the South as the old TD travels into MS and LA.  Our sands are a shiftin' for sure! But that's what sand does! Semper gumby folks!

If you get out today, please continue to inform guests on the flag system.  RED flags continue to fly.  It continues to astound me that people either don't even SEE the flags, or don't know what they mean.  When visitors come to the beach, they get what I call "Ocean Blindness".  They are so excited to see the ocean, that they bound from the car, and focus on the water, blinders on, missing everything around them.  That includes the GIANT signs all over about the flags, the blinking super sign on the bridge, and the flapping flags on the beach.  There was a drowning this past week down near PCB, vacationer, family had no idea about the flag system.  His son and friend went in the water on DOUBLE RED FLAG.  He went in to save them and he drown.  It sounds like the lifeguard had no picnic trying to save him. 

Anyway, keep an eye out for old tar washing in.  With the surf as heavy as it is, it would be hard to spot before it was whisked out again, but the chance of old stuff washing in and up is higher with the wave action as it is.

On the fishing front, the Spanish mackerel are making their presence know around the pier, that is, when the water is in decent calm conditons to fish.  I had a lovely one on the line on Saturday, when one of those sharks with a cup holder, ummm I mean Dolphin, decided "Mackerel, it's what's for dinner!" took it, line, $8 lure, fish and all! ARGH!

Back to the blowhole gang that infests the Pier!  :) ( Doesn't that conjure funny images?  Upright dolphins, wearing short jackets, headbands, blowhole rings, and cans of spray paint in their flippers, tagging the pier ! HA!) Yes, I LOVE Dolphins, I really do.  When I"m NOT fishing!  BOY OH BOY did they have a show this week for the tourists on the pier!  Saturday night there must have been half a dozen.  While diving and rolling, chasing fish, stealing fish, and blowing porpoise hork in the air, a few decided to entertain the crowd with amazing leaps, twirls, and belly flops.  I was starting to wonder if the tank at the Gulfarium had a leak and an escapee or two.  The crowd of course enjoyed this free entertainment to no end.  I was, however, starting to wonder if the Dolphins have figured out that if they jump and twirl, the people cheer, take pictures and clap.  Hmmmm......who's entertaining WHO?

Sadly, I have no photos of that.  I was busy tying a new lure to the line.

Also on the beach critter front, we have two nests in the 40 day incubation area.  I will report back later on their move, IF they move.

On to the area of PEOPLE food.  I need a headcount for FRIDAY night's dinner.  It sounds like we're going to do pizza or sandwiches with salad.  But that head count is important.  I am going with whatever is in my email box by NOON on THURSDAY the 19th.  If you want to bring a dish to share, that's super too.  If the weather holds, we're going to get the kayaks to the sound and such, and you can bring your snorkels!

Have a terrific Tuesday!