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Nashville Lifestyles magazine goes to South Walton. Click link above to learn more about Nashville Lifestyles. Pick up a copy of the September 2009 to read my most recent article.

Murray

Sails, Whales & Mahi Tales

Capt. Larry Pentel
August 17, 2009
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report




What an incredible past 2 weeks! Kinda hard to figure where to start but I guess it should be with the big fish- Really BIG Fish! There has been a school (pod?) of Whale Sharks living in the Grayton/Seagrove area for at least the past 12 days. They have stayed within about a 20 square mile area and while they haven't been feeding on the surface everyday we have had several days where not only would at least one stay on the surface they would let us get the boat right next to 'em and even let us swim with them, totally unconcerned about our presence. You have no idea just how "big" a 35 foot long fish is until you swim along side one!



Like I said-they would swim right by the boat!



A full view, hard to judge size with no perspective.



Feeding on the surface with a mouth 8 feet wide!



For a little perspective- That's me cruising along with one we estimated...

Railroad vine blooms near Blue Mountain Beach.

Beautiful summer plant strengthens sand dunes

Each flower opens only once, in the morning, but keep blooming almost all year long, peaking from May through November.


The railroad vine is native and part of the Convolvulaceae (morning glory) Family. It is an herbaceous vine that grows wild on ocean shores from Florida to Texas and Georgia.
They open in the early morning and close before noon each day that the plant is in bloom. Small, round seedpods that contain four velvety, dark brown seeds appear on this plant after flowering.
General Information:
Scientific name: Ipomoea pes-caprae
Common name(s): railroad vine, beach morning glory, goat's foot vine
Railroad vines can run as long as 100 ft.

Catherine Badger, a designer from In Depth details a bald eagle for the exhibition hall at the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center.

Designers work on finishing touches at
E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center

Other features of the Center include multi-purpose classrooms, science labs, dioramas, and a 160-seat theater. In addition, visitors to the Center will have an opportunity to learn about the natural environment both indoors and out, along an extensive trail system .9-mile long, with a 610 ft. boardwalk that crosses through a hardwood swamp, and around a beaver pond. Grand opening slated for Sept. 12.
The E. O. Wilson Biophilia Center is on the south side of Highway 20 between Freeport and Bruce, approximately 4 miles east of Highway 331.
For related story, Click here For more information about the Center go to: http://www.eowilsoncenter.org/

South Walton Turtle Watch Group volunteer Dawn Ratcliffe gets ready to release loggerhead turtle into the Gulf.

Juvenile turtles get second lease on life

South Walton Turtle Watch Group volunteers Sharon Maxwell and Dawn Ratcliffe successfully released two rehabilitated loggerhead turtles into the Gulf of Mexico on June 30.
The two turtles, approximately 3-years-old have been recovering from pneumonia at Gulf World for the last 4 months. The turtles were discovered washed ashore last March.
Good luck little one!



Jason Hatcher of Freeport donated his time and 20 ft. Kenner Center Console boat for the release of the turtles. Jason captained his boat more than 4 miles offshore for the release, to ensure the turtles would not encounter fishing boats for the first leg of their new journey.
For more information about the South Walton Turtle Watch Group go to seaturtlewatch.com

WaltonOutdoors.com is an online zine for outdoor enthusiasts in Walton County, Florida and the surrounding area. Lori Ceier can be reached via email at lori@waltonoutdoors.com