Blog Archives
June Grass Update Sunday Afternoon
June grass update for Walton County 5/26/13:PM
0.5-3.5 on the June Grass Grossness Index.
My husband and I went for an evening swim. The wind had shifted to the Southeast and there were some moderate waves. Nice for some gentle body surfing, not so nice because they brought the June Grass back in. Fortunately it was only very concentrated in patches. The water was still a nice temperature, although I did find a few cold spots as we swam. We saw a school of ladyfish and some sort of jacks. I also noticed some live olive shells on the bottom, something I’ve never seen here before. We stayed in about 6-7′ of water in between the two sandbars. I have two new swimsuits from Ecostinger and unfortunately I chose to wear the shorty (instead of the full skin) and got stung on the calf by “sea lice”, so keep that in mind. I also got stung on the lip and hubby got several stings as well. Hubby saw a turtle and we both saw a small stingray.
At the time this report was made the beach flags were yellow, but check them again before you head to the beach.
I would love it if you would share your personal June Grass and beach condition reports in the comments section. It would also be great if you left a comment to tell me where you’re traveling from to visit the beach!
If there isn’t a current June Grass report up on this site I suggest checking the link to local beach cams on the left side of this page. They can often give you an idea of what the water is like. It is also important to “Know Before You Go” and check local beach flags. They are updated twice daily at 9:30am and 1:30pm.
PLEASE ENJOY THE BEACH RESPONSIBLY!
Concentrated patches of june grass but not too bad…Photo by Hubby
Clearer water further away from the beach…Photo by Hubby
June Grass Update Middle of Memorial Day Weekend
June grass update for Walton County 5/26/13:AM
0 on the June Grass Grossness Index.
While I was having my morning bike ride I stopped at the beach to have a look around. The water looks great! Small waves with a North wind and very clear. There were a lot of surf fishermen, in about chest deep water around the first sandbar, who seemed to be having a good time. I didn’t stick my feet in but the water must be nice if they were out in it so early, especially since the air was nice and cool last night. For the birdwatchers: I saw a ruddy turnstone at the beach. There was also a gentleman enjoying some early morning metal detecting on the sand. I also stopped by one of the dune lakes on my ride and the fishermen there were catching 1-2.5 pound bass, so if you don’t feel like fighting the crowds at the beach today the dune lakes could be a fun option.
At the time this report was made the beach flags were yellow, but check them again before you head to the beach.
I would love it if you would share your personal June Grass and beach condition reports in the comments section. It would also be great if you left a comment to tell me where you’re traveling from to visit the beach!
If there isn’t a current June Grass report up on this site I suggest checking the link to local beach cams on the left side of this page. They can often give you an idea of what the water is like. It is also important to “Know Before You Go” and check local beach flags. They are updated twice daily at 9:30am and 1:30pm.
PLEASE ENJOY THE BEACH RESPONSIBLY!
June Grass Update Beginning of Memorial Day Weekend
June grass update for Walton County 5/24/13:PM
0.5-2 on the June Grass Grossness Index.
I had my inaugural Gulf of Mexico swim on Monday and the water was warm and crystal clear so I was hoping to be able to deliver a June Grass Report of ZERO for Memorial Day weekend, but alas that is not to be the case. June Grass is fickle and when I went for a swim at about 6:30 this evening there was some sargassum up on the beach and some June Grass. Most of the June grass was pushed up in the shallows and as I waded out to the first sandbar it pretty much disappeared. The moon is full tonight so the tide was WAY out and I could walk out to the first sandbar without getting wet much above my knees. The water was also a bit cooler today, but still nice, and the wind was coming from the North.
I had my diving mask with me so I looked around underwater for awhile. I saw a tiny flounder about 3″ long and then as I was getting out to leave I saw a big fish jump in the air three times way out past the second sandbar. There were also a number of shorebirds around. Speaking of wildlife: shore birds and sea turtles are currently nesting on our beaches! Please respect them and follow any regulations pertaining to wildlife. The beach is for everybody! Also please use your common sense and best judgement while having fun at the beach this weekend!
I was out on Okaloosa Island Monday morning and saw a few rafts of sargassum in the East Pass, but it looked nice otherwise. When I was out there this morning it looked like Crab Island was getting ready for the weekend.
At the time this report was made the beach flags were yellow, but check them again before you head to the beach.
I would love it if you would share your personal June Grass and beach condition reports in the comments section. It would also be great if you left a comment to tell me where you’re traveling from to visit the beach!
If there isn’t a current June Grass report up on this site I suggest checking the link to local beach cams on the left side of this page. They can often give you an idea of what the water is like. It is also important to “Know Before You Go” and check local beach flags. They are updated twice daily at 9:30am and 1:30pm.
PLEASE ENJOY THE BEACH RESPONSIBLY!
June Grass Update
June grass update for Walton County 7/17/12:AM
0 on the June Grass Grossness Index.
Ok, maybe I should rename it the sargassum report because we have loads of that and it is getting a bit whiffy down on the beach, but not awful. Yesterday, while stuck in traffic on the Destin bridge I saw an enormous raft of sargassum in the pass. I am curious to see what an afternoon of thunderstorms from the North does to the sargassum and June Grass situations.
At the time this report was made the beach flags were yellow and purple, but check them again before you head to the beach.
If there isn’t a current June Grass report up on this site I suggest checking the link to local beach cams on the left side of this page. They can often give you an idea of what the water is like. It is also important to “Know Before You Go” and check local beach flags. They are updated twice daily at 9:30am and 1:30pm.
PLEASE ENJOY THE BEACH RESPONSIBLY!
June Grass Update
June grass update for Walton County 7/14/12:AM
0 on the June Grass Grossness Index.
However, there is a lot of sargassum in the water. I imagine it was dragged in by the fairly strong storms we had yesterday afternoon. Sargassum won’t keep me from swimming since it isn’t slimy but you may feel otherwise. I personally like sargassum because if you look at it closely with a dive mask you can often find tiny triggerfish and even pipefish if you are really lucky.
Fishermen: there are a lot of coquina in the intertidal zone right now. I didn’t see any sand fleas but the sun was already pretty high in the sky and I don’t usually see them unless it is very early or later in the evening.
The water is a little cooler than it was in my last report, probably from the rain, but still a lovely temperature. There is a stiff breeze and the water is a bit choppy. There are also a number of thunderheads off shore, so do be mindful of them and the weather forecast for rain. Do NOT remain on the beach if you hear thunder. If you can hear thunder the storm is close enough that you can be struck by lightening. Lightening strikes are very common in this area. Don’t take any chances!
At the time this report was made the beach flags were yellow and purple, but check them again before you head to the beach.
If there isn’t a current June Grass report up on this site I suggest checking the link to local beach cams on the left side of this page. They can often give you an idea of what the water is like. It is also important to “Know Before You Go” and check local beach flags. They are updated twice daily at 9:30am and 1:30pm.
PLEASE ENJOY THE BEACH RESPONSIBLY!
June Grass Update
June grass update for Walton County 7/11/12:PM
0 on the June Grass Grossness Index.
We’ve had a LOT of thunderstorms moving through lately and I think they may be keeping the June Grass at bay. The water was really lovely this evening, nice and warm and a beautiful color with very small waves. I wish I’d gone swimming.
At the time this report was made the beach flags were yellow and purple, but check them again before you head to the beach.
If there isn’t a current June Grass report up on this site I suggest checking the link to local beach cams on the left side of this page. They can often give you an idea of what the water is like. It is also important to “Know Before You Go” and check local beach flags. They are updated twice daily at 9:30am and 1:30pm.
PLEASE ENJOY THE BEACH RESPONSIBLY!
June Grass Update
June grass update for Walton County 7/6/12:PM
0 on the June Grass Grossness Index.
I apologize for the lack of reports. I have not been well, which put me a little behind at work, plus I was taking a fishing workshop three evenings a week for two weeks, then Tropical Storm Debby and other bad weather have kept me off the beach.
However, I have just popped down to the beach for a few minutes and it is shaping up to be a lovely day. The storm this morning seems to have swept the June Grass away…for now. The water is a bit cool, but very nice, and a little choppy. The UV Index is 9, so use caution in that regard.
This photo nicely illustrates how the ocean “renourishes” the beach all by itself, naturally, without any interference. Have a look at past, even recent, photos of this bench.
At the time this report was made the beach flags were yellow and purple, but check them again before you head to the beach.
If there isn’t a current June Grass report up on this site I suggest checking the link to local beach cams on the left side of this page. They can often give you an idea of what the water is like. It is also important to “Know Before You Go” and check local beach flags. They are updated twice daily at 9:30am and 1:30pm.
PLEASE ENJOY THE BEACH RESPONSIBLY!
June Grass Update for Dune Allen Public Access
June grass update for Dune Allen Public Access 6/18/12:AM
0-2 on the June Grass Grossness Index.
Weather is much the same as the last few days but with less wind and the waves seem to have died down a bit. I am cautiously optimistic about the water clarity.
At the time this report was made the beach flags were yellow, but check them again before you head to the beach.
If there isn’t a current June Grass report up on this site I suggest checking the link to local beach cams on the left side of this page. They can often give you an idea of what the water is like. It is also important to “Know Before You Go” and check local beach flags. They are updated twice daily at 9:30am and 1:30pm.
PLEASE ENJOY THE BEACH RESPONSIBLY!
June Grass Update for Stallworth Public Access & Main THPSP Beach Access
June grass update for Stallworth Public Access & Main THPSP Beach Access 6/17/12:AM
6-10 on the June Grass Grossness Index.
Wind and water conditions are much the same as yesterday, but perhaps the waves are a bit bigger.
Flies are starting to congregate at the beach but they aren’t biting yellow flies, they look more like small barnyard flies and are a bit annoying.
There is a lot of trash on the beach, being tossed up from the waves, so a beach clean up might be a nice family activity today. Picnicing, frisbee/any other beach sport, or building sandcastles could also be fun. Take Dad to the beach! Happy Father’s Day to all the great dads out there!
I saw 5 least terns and 1 Forster’s tern on the beach, a few brown pelicans, and a flock of snowy egrets. Please remember that dogs are not allowed on state beaches and must be properly leashed and permitted on beaches where they are allowed.
Shorebird nesting season is starting and sea turtle nesting season has already begun. Please don’t let your pet, or children, harass wildlife but rather enjoy them from a distance.
Today’s suggested beach reading: “The Sea Brings Forth” by Jack Rudloe, a Florida Panhandle author.
At the time this report was made the beach flags were yellow, but check them again before you head to the beach.
If there isn’t a current June Grass report up on this site I suggest checking the link to local beach cams on the left side of this page. They can often give you an idea of what the water is like. It is also important to “Know Before You Go” and check local beach flags. They are updated twice daily at 9:30am and 1:30pm.
PLEASE ENJOY THE BEACH RESPONSIBLY!
The June Grass Report 