Beach Conditions

[JB]

The water looks pretty clear on this cam:

http://www.remaxsouthern.com/cam.htm

Is Walton County some kind of June grass magnet? I mean, I never hear about June grass in Gulf Shores, Pensacola, Destin, PCB, etc.

 

[nodilberthere]

Wow, now black flies and pea soup? I'm realllly hoping for a better forecast than that in three weeks. Last year out of 13 beach days in grayton i would say we had 3-4 really good, clear water days. When we stayed just outside of Pensacola the few years before we didn't have june grass at all.

We didn't know what june grass was then but we knew it wasn't pretty. We'd send a search party down each morning to check the water conditions, and the look on their faces walking back determined if we went to the beach or stayed at the pool:

June Grass Pool Day

No June Grass Beach Day!

I'm wondering if I should maybe change reservations and book a house in the West end of Panama City, maybe. The sand isn't as nice but the june grass would be a real drag since we are pool-less this year.

 

[Matt J]

nodilberthere, I can assure that it is the same in PCB. The difference is that even though it is illegal a lot of the beach services will rake it off the beach. It's really just dependent on wind and currents. Moving 10 miles down the road won't change the possibility of it.

 

[nodilberthere]

yeah, that did sound pretty stupid, didn't. But honestly, we were in WEst Panama City two years in a row for two week stretches and never once saw slime in the water. Then we got hooked on Grayton and for the past two years, it's really been hit-or-miss.

Driving 1500 straight-thru miles to get there to sit on the beach and not swim because the water is murky and not very appealing makes our pool here at home seem that much more appealing. This is a $5,000 trip for us, cheap by comparison to most, but it is a big expenditure this year. We could go to Duck Beach or Corolla in the outer banks in half the time. But , we really LOVE the beaches in Sowal when they are clear and emerald. When they aren't, it's just a big bummer. Does that sound superficial and bratty? hell yeah, but mother nature can be a real beeyotch sometimes.

 

[Matt J]

No it didn't sound stupid, superficial, or bratty. I was just pointing out the fact that it is affecting the entire area. I don't believe it was this bad two years ago either.

 

[austin78735]

We went out to Shell Island yesterday and it was gorgeous. Was a hike to get there but worth it in my opinion. We found the clear beautiful water we drove here for.

 

[lennonsdarlin]

We will have some years that you can go everyday w/o a touch o' the stuff. But, I can remember one year, must've been 12-15 years ago, it was thick grass all summer..bad fishing year. Two years ago we searched for a fishing spot from inlet to the island without finding a break to cast a line. No rhyme or reason...so sorry for vacationers, tho! They don't have the luxury of shrugging their shoulders and saying, "Oh well, give it a few days, maybe it'll change." I actually love the stuff because with a really bad year of grass the sand grows right before your eyes!!!

 

[kimbug]

We are at Watersound West & have been all week. The conditions have varied from really thick (only 1 day) to yesterday when there was very little where we were set up (close to Deer Lake outflow). Haven't been down yet but are on our way. Hopefully we can enjoy our last day on the beach without it!!

 

[cpete]

Hey Kimbug

I would love a report. We are headed to Watersound this weekend! I will try to give reports while I'm there if I can get my laptop to work.

 

[Matt J]

I would love a report. We are headed to Watersound this weekend! I will try to give reports while I'm there if I can get my laptop to work.

Shouldn't be a problem, hotspots all over Watersound.