Kayakers on Western Lake. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Kayaks an easy fit for anyone interested in outdoor fun

With the Gulf of Mexico, the Choctawhatchee Bay and numerous lakes, creeks and rivers in the area, kayaking is a popular sport in the Panhandle. And with little maintenance cost after purchase, kayaking can be enjoyed by most anyone.
There are two basic configurations to choose from, the traditional cockpit style and the sit on top. In a variety of lengths, kayaks range from 8 – 20 ft. and weigh in anywhere from 40 – 70 lbs. Deciding which kayak to choose depends on the type of paddle experience one is looking for.

The Kayak Experience in Destin has both cockpit and sit on kayak types. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Marlice Brown of The Kayak Experience in Destin explained that the cockpit style offers a faster paddle and drier experience when using a skirt.

The Kayak Experience sells about equal amounts of both types, boasting a variety of manufacturers such as Old Town, Ocean Kayak, Necky, Wilderness Systems and Eddyline. The Kayak Experience personnel are experienced paddlers who assist buyers in finding the perfect fit.

The first Saturday of every month the store offers demonstrations, and anyone interested can try out any model of interest. The store also sells books, maps trailers and accessories. Read More…

Posted under Eco tourism adventure, Fishing, Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun

Friday, July 24

Seaside movies under the stars

Seaside Amphitheater at  8:00 p.m.
Daddy Day Camp – Hilarity reins when Daddy Day Care owners Charlie and Phil expand their business to include running a summer camp. Determined to provide their sons with a positive camp experience, Charlie and Phil visit their childhood Camp Driftwood only to find it dilapidated and on the brink of closure.
Link out
http://seasidefl.com

Saturday, July 25

Redfish tournament at Boon Docks Restaurant – Hwy. 79 Panama City Beach

Hosted by Emerald Coast Redfish Club and Boon Docks Restaurant
Tournament Schedule:
Check-in location:  County Boat Ramp at the end of Bay View Circle, Panama City Bch, FL. On the south side of the Hwy 79 Bridge. 5:00-5:30 a.m.
Once teams are checked in, they can launch from the south or north side boat ramps.
Click here for map
For more information: theredfishclub.com

Adventure Bike and Hike with a ranger at Grayton Beach State Park

Join Park Ranger Patrick for an adventurous bike and hike down the 30-A bike path, through the  forest of Pt. Washington State Forest and Grayton Beach State Park.
Saturday, 25 July 09, 8:30 a.m.
Park entrance and parking fees do apply – $5.00 per vehicle,$2.00 per pedestrian/bicycle
Items to bring/wear:
Appropriate clothing and closed toe shoes, water, bug spray, sunscreen/hat.
Biking helmets are required for all persons under the age of 16  and accompanied by an adult (no exceptions). Mountain or Off Road bikes only. This will be a ride/hike on hard and sandy surfaces. Participants may get wet/muddy

Paddle Big Escambia Creek – Flomaton to Hwy. 4

The group will meet under the Hwy. 31 bridge across from Hardee’s in Flomaton, AL at the intersection of Hwy. 29 and Hwy. 31.  Leave there at 9:30 a.m. to run the short, three mile shuttle.  The trip on the creek is 7.2 miles.
 This is a great section that takes you through the trees with fast current.   There will be plenty of opportunities to swim.  The trip ends on the Escambia River at Hwy. 4.
 Contact miriamcanoe@hotmail.com or call  251-591-0612 to let know if you plan to paddle. Miriam Stewart

Sunday, July 26

Surfrider Foundation sponsoring event to clean up Miramar Beach

A Special request to clean up a very trashed section of beach!

Sundays are always great on the beach with people who share your passion. Join the Surfrider Foundation Sunday morning at about 9 a.m. at the Tiki bar east of the Whales Tail, to improve this part of our beach home. Look for the surfrider flag. Bring a board and make a morning of it. For more information contact: emeraldcoast@surfrider.org

Posted under Beaches, Fishing, Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun

A view of Rocky Bayou from picnic area.

Paddle, hike, picnic and bird watch at State Park in Niceville

Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park, known by most as Rocky Bayou State Park sets nestled along State Road 20 in Niceville along Rocky Bayou. The park boasts 357 acres of wooded walking trails of sand pine scrub, longleaf pine, sand hill forests, pine flat woods and wetlands.

More than 100 different species of birds may be spotted in the diverse area, including kingfishers, ospreys, warblers and woodpeckers. Along one of the walking/biking trails, you will find an interpretive kiosk, which visually describes some of the many birds that can be found in the park. Read More…

Posted under Biking, Birding, Eco tourism adventure, Fishing, Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Parks, Trails/Hiking, paddle/surf/boat

Kayaking on Lake Powell one of the weekend activities at Summer at The Sound.

Golf, kayaking, lawn games and swimming all part of the fun-filled weekend at WaterSound

The community of WaterSound and The St. Joe Company will host a free public event to celebrate the summer season in South Walton County.  Held at WaterSound’s central gathering spot, Village Commons, and The Origins Golf Course, Summer At The ‘Sound is a fun-filled outing for visiting and local families alike.  Folks of all ages will enjoy live music, swimming in the beautifully designed Village Commons pool, playing in the nearby kids’ fort, face painting and clowns, lawn games, giveaways and door prizes.  Guided kayak tours by Sunrise Kayak Rental on scenic Lake Powell and community bike rentals will also be available. The WaterSound Beach Café will be preparing boxed lunches and treats which will be available for purchase.

There are a variety of games and contests planned for the Davis Love III-designed nine hole Origins Golf Course – just steps from the Village Commons – such as a free short game clinic, including chipping and putting, with a member of Camp Creek’s professional staff and hourly kids’ chipping and putting contests.  For that day, a discounted round of golf for adults will be offered at just $15.00 while kids 15 and under play free with an adult.   For event information call:  850-231-6433.

That same weekend, WaterSound is also host to the inaugural Soccer At The Surf Regional Soccer Tournament, being produced by US98 Soccer and Local United Soccer Leagues team, The Panama City Pirates, all to benefit the South Walton Montessori School.  Families from all over the southeast will travel to South Walton the weekend of June 12 – 14 to play in various age groups/divisions at both the Wind Garden Park in WaterSound and Helen McCall Park in Santa Rosa Beach. Soccer At The Surf will also be offering the unique and memorable soccer-playing experience of playing against actual professional soccer players! The Panama City Pirates will be providing a team of their actual players (fresh off a match on Saturday night) to play against a team of those lucky individuals who win/purchase the opportunity to play in a fundraising match on Sunday, June 14th.  For more information, please visit www.us98soccer.com.

Directions: WaterSound is located in South Walton County in Northwest Florida, on Highway 98 just north of Scenic Highway 30A, half a mile north of Camp Creek Golf Club and three miles east of WaterSound Beach.  Address:  180 North WaterSound Parkway, WaterSound, FL  32413  Follow the signs from Highway 98 into the community.

Posted under Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun

Family Festival to be held at Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park

The second annual Choctawhatchee Estuary Family Festival, a free family & community event for all ages, will be held Saturday, May 2 from 11:00 am. to 4:00 p.m. at Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park, located at 4281 Highway 20 East in Niceville. There is no park entrance fee for the festival which offers fun activities, hand-on displays and environmental awareness. The event is hosted by the Mattie M. Kelly Cultural & Environmental Institute at Northwest Florida State College, with support from the Friends of the Emerald Coast State Parks.

The Choctawhatchee Estuary Family Festival features activities for the whole family including fish printing on t-shirts, crab races, hiking, seining for fish, kayak tours, and more. There will also be informative displays on the Okaloosa darter, local snakes, red tide, and the Gulf sturgeon. Other festival events include guided nature walks, kayak and canoe tours. All activities and entertainment are free of charge.

Families are encouraged to pack a picnic lunch and come learn about the local waters of our estuary and the people living and working there. For more information on the festival, contact the Mattie M. Kelly Cultural & Environmental Institute at 729-6469.

For more information: http://www.mattiekellyinstitute.org/env-estuary-festival.cfm

Posted under Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Parks

Matt Keene. Photo courtesy FloridaGreenwaysAndTrails.com.

Entire Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail paddled

Matt Keene’s and Jodi Eller’s Sunshine Expedition reached a significant  milestone on Jan. 5 as Matt arrived at Big Lagoon State Park near Pensacola. In a 3-½ month sea kayaking trip, Matt Keene became the first ever thru-paddler of the 1600-mile Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail.

He was welcomed by family, friends and supporters in an event coordinated by Escambia County’s Marine Resources Division.  Having also paddled for much of the trip, Jodi took a family holiday break and has now rejoined Matt for part two of their plan to hike the entire Florida Trail. To enjoy descriptions of their travel experiences, check out sunshineexpedition.com. For more information on the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail, visit FloridaGreenwaysAndTrails.com.

Posted under Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Trails/Hiking

Pompano, redfish, bluefish, flounder being caught surf fishing

Bluefish illustration courtesy FWC.

Surf Fishing

Surf Fishing in the winter offers some interesting possibilities.  In the last few weeks we have seen lots of big bull reds, bluefish, black drum, pompano and even bonita caught from the beach.  This time of year, you never know what to expect.  Keep an eye on the fluctuations in water temperature.  The past few weeks have seen the water temperature rise and fall several degrees.  When you see a rise of a few degrees, watch for the baitfish near shore as the bigger fish will be following.  Diving birds are a good sign.  That’s the time to go surf fishing.

This time of year you can expect redfish, bluefish, bonita, pompano, whiting, flounder, black drum, sheepshead, and catfish in the surf.  Use live or frozen shrimp, sand fleas, or cut bait.  Not every day will be productive, but surf fishing in the winter can be amazing.

Bay

Bay Fishing has been good with the exception of those high wind days that we can get this time of year.  Trout have been biting at the mouths of the bayous and rivers, and in the Intracoastal Waterway.  Redfish on the flats have been active and will probably remain so until it gets very cold.   According to Capt. James Whitaker, “Schools ranging from 3 to 20 fish have been feeding intensely in the morning hours.  It hasn’t been uncommon to see 5 to 10 tails waiving around at once.”

Inshore

Inshore Gulf offers excellent bottom fishing.  While the red snapper season is closed, this is a great time of year to catch big grouper and amberjack within sight of land.  They tend to move to the shallower inshore wrecks and reefs in the winter.  Our captains are reporting good catches of grouper, trigger, amberjack, and vermillion snapper.  It’s time to go fishing.

Fishing report provided by
Yellowfin Ocean Sports

3005 E. County 30A     Seagrove Beach   850-231-9024

Posted under Beaches, Fishing, Outdoor Family Fun

by Jerron Barnett

Eglin Environmental Public Affairs

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Attention all Eglin outdoor recreation enthusiasts, the Fiscal Year 2008 hunting, fishing and recreation permits will go on sale at Jackson Guard Wednesday, beginning at 7 a.m.

Several of the permit’s prices have slightly increased this year, due to increased costs to keep the program running, Justin Johnson, Jackson Guard outdoor recreation program manager, said.

“The prices of the permits have held steady for nearly 15 years, and we want to continue to be a self sufficient outdoor recreation program here,”  Johnson said.

Under the hunter permit type, the Sportsman ($55), General Hunting ($45), Hunting (10-day trip) ($25) and Management Unit 6 ($50) permit prices were increased by $5 respectively. The General Fishing permit price was increased by three dollars to $15. The General Recreation permit price was increased by three dollars to $10 and the Camping permit price was increased by five dollars to $10. All other permit prices remained the same as last year.

Permits for the popular Management Unit 6 will be sold on a first-come, first served basis, Mr. Johnson said. This unit is a preferred area for many Eglin hunters that choose to hunt deer with the aid of dogs. Only 375 permits will be made available in order to regulate hunting pressure.

Mr. Johnson estimates that Jackson Guard will sell more than 15,000 permits in FY08, which should yield approximately $284,590 in revenue. This revenue pays for habitat management efforts, timber stand improvement projects and other operation costs. This revenue also allows Jackson Guard to sponsor public events like the Eglin Youth Fishing Rodeo that was held earlier this year and the annual Youth and Mobility-Impaired hunts.

For more information on Eglin’s outdoor recreation, camping, hunting and fishing permits, please call the Jackson Guard permit sales lobby at 850-882-4165 or 850-882-4166. Jackson Guard is located in Niceville along Highway 85 North.

EGLIN AFB FL
FY09 HUNTING SEASON DATES

General Seasons:

Archery -  October 18-November 16  30 days
Dog Training –   November 1-7   7 days
Early Muzzleloading Gun – November 21-23  3 days
General Gun -  November 27-30  4 days
December 20-January 4 16 days
January 24-February 1 9 days

Late Primitive Weapon – February 14-22  9 days
Early Small Game* – November 17-February 22 97 days
*MU 6
Late Small Game January 5-23   19 days
Dove – To be announced
Spring Turkey – March 21-April 26  37 days
Varmint/Predator**- May 15-June 15  31 days
**MU 12 only

Trapping -  December 1-March 1 91 days

Special Opportunity Hunts:

MU 6, 7 & 9 Youth Hunt Weekend – January 10-11
Commander’s Deer/Hog Hunt – January 31-February 1
Mobility Impaired Hunt – February 7-8
Youth Hunt – February 14-15
Special Opportunity Turkey Hunt – April 4-5
April 18-19

Posted under Fishing, Hunting, Nature, Trails/Hiking