Thanks billycrap2! Glad that you enjoyed the snapshots. To quote some lyrics from an old Moody Blues song "The Best Way to Travel"...there is a verse that says "Thinking is the best way to travel". I find that to be quite true...you can visit many places in your mind's eye just by looking at pictures and perhaps supplementing with some reading!

I have been to many places on this earth via photographs and captions contained in coffee table books...to a point where I am satisfied enough not to desire a physical travel date!

Glad to dredge up some fond memories for you. We actually stayed in Navarre, and took a few drives Easterly. The Airforce Plane and Munitions Museum in Fort Walton was impressive, and I spent several hours combing it over inside and out.

With Eglin AFB nearby there was always a lot of aerial activity. One of our favorite "eat out" spots was the place called the Crab Trap in Destin. We had heard about the great crab cakes and seafood gumbo so we definitely gave it a try. We were not disappointed!

Thanks to a fisherman working the water next to us one day I did get to "sort of" fish by casting his gear out a little farther than he could reach on his own. I was wearing a swim suit that day, so I could wade out a long ways and then give it a hurl. I ended up spooling one of his rigs right down near the core and he raised his eyebrows and said..."wow"...I've never had my baits set so far off shore! They still ended up in the sweetspot of the sandbar gully.

Our Northern Michigan Winter was starting to wear us thin on patience for warm weather to arrive as we passed the midpoint of March. After a spectacular season of snowmobiling and ice fishing it was time to hang up the sled keys as well as stowing away the cozy ice shanty, hole boring drills and assorted collection of dainty mini rods. My wife was anxious to hit the road and make tracks towards the Florida panhandle to soak up some much needed sunlight and rejuvenating fresh air.

The plan was to bring our bikes and beach gear...nothing else as far as sporting goods. That being said, I did end up bringing a duffel bag full of parafoil kites along...you never know when the breeze is going to be just perfect for putting a colorful piece of fabric aloft on a string! A vacation without fishing...hmmm...not sure if I would be able to resist temptation when the water and fish would be right there in front of me all day long! The bikes came in handy, and we managed to put on several miles each day via local neighborhoods and dedicated trail networks.

Spent about 6 hours on average at the beach everyday over a 3 week period and it sure was relaxing. I deliberately left my rods and tackle at home, and simply enjoyed watching other folks fish. My wife was very impressed with my resolve, but ended up encouraging me to purchase a small metal "net" contraption designed to scoop up seashells and fish bait from the surf. That turned out to be a blast, and I had nearly as much fun doing that as fishing. Ultimately, I ended up supplying sand fleas for nearby fisherman to use as bait. One fellow even allowed me to cast his rigs out to gain an extra 100 feet or so on the leveraged fling, which definitely put a smile on my face.

Although I have been to coastal regions from time to time over the years, this was the first time I really gave some thought towards getting into saltwater fishing. If I lived closer, I most certainly would! I can see why those of you on the forum that live near the oceans enjoy it so much. The prey can be surprisingly unknown, large, and challenging to catch. From the piers and surf settings, I observed pomano, redfish, cobia, spanish mackerel, bonito, sailcats, rays and small sharks being caught on a regular basis. At times, the fishing was as slow as molassas...but when the action was "hot", people were bringing fish onto shore like a boy canepoling bluegill from a stocked farm pond. I did end up purchasing a small amount of tackle, like pomano rigs and "Gotcha" lures. They might even work for some of the fish I pursue in Northern Michigan!

If I ever go back to this region, you can believe that I will arrive prepared to fish! Upon our recent return home, we have been welcomed by continued cold temperatures and snowy days. During lunch this afternoon, I told my wife that I was ready to leave again and go back to Destin, FL..."right now"! She knew I was kidding, but agreed that our recent vacation was among the best we have ever taken.
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fishyaker your mentioning of a time and place well placed in my memory banks. Seeing you in the surf, i can hear and see the sounds of that moment that my time was spent there. My go to spot way back in the 70's was when you crossed the bridge from Ft Walton to the Destin side. On the right there was a cove at the time the blue crabs were 8" - 10" every time, and even a 12" was often. The water was so clear i could watch the crab go into the collapsible trap and know when to pull it up.

There used to be a marina on the Ft Walton side next to the bridge where i got to know the Captains and first mates on a weekly basis to get fish heads for bait. A park on the left side where we used to picnic and watch Cessna planes take off and land on the water. Oh yes good times were had back in my 20's.