Apalachicola / Port St. Joe FL

[Utah SUPer]

Bkgd: 52 yo male.  Moved to California for the sole purpose of surfing in 1989. Worked at San Onofre, lived in Oceanside.  Longboard surfer, not really talented but I have fun.  Moved to Utah in 1997 due to economic hardship.  I ride a 12' log, more like a tandem board, shaped by Ron House around 2006.

I just started a job in northern Alabama and on my way here I stopped in Florida.  I was going to stop in Destin or Panama City Beach at a state park but luckily they were all filled up.  I was not impressed by either place.  I can only imagine how bad the traffic is in the summer.  I will not be back to those places

Port St. Joe and Apalachicola are worlds away from Panama City.  Low key, quiet, and not touristy.  Luckily they don't have quite the quality of beach that vacationers want.  But they do have good paddling!

I had kind of crappy weather when I was there first part of March.  Luckily I was able to paddle in the bay when it was blowing from the west and I paddled in the gulf in the mornings before the wind picked up.  The waves in the gulf were actually not bad, knee high and good form.  Then got blown out at noon.  The bay is very shallow in general but the water clarity was excellent.  Perfect visibility down to 12' and that was about the deepest I was in.

Never saw another paddleboarder or surfer the whole three days I was there.  Stayed at St. Joe Peninsula state park which was pretty decent but when I go back I will stay at Presnell's marina and rv park.  Right on the bay and same price as state park.  The state park is on the gulf but it is a long walk to haul your board to the water. You can access the gulf at more convenient locations at Indian Pass and Cape San Blas.  Seafood markets are everywhere which is a huge attraction for me.

Long story short, one of my favorite places.

[gosobohemia]

check out fort pickens campground sometime, beautiful area & access to gulf & bay.  Santa Rosa island has all the tourist stuff but once you get out into the state park it's like a different world.  It's nice to camp there & be able to run in to Peg Leg's for dinner though.