Gulf Shores, AL

Dude I hope you score! The Gulf is a fickle one but when it's on... it's on. There are a few rare gems per year that can rival damn near anything you've surfed at your home break... but again, it's fickle and rare. I don't know what the sandbars are like up that way, but at my spots in WFL it gets epic on occasion, one of the advantages to living inland is I can hit both West & East Coasts easily. Most likely won't turn out to be epic for you, don't wanna set you up for disappointment, but if a named storm or huge low pressure rolls through it just might...

 

if the waves are REALLY going to be up stop by so jersey on your way down and i'll lend you
one of my guns and i don't mean firearms.

 

the sandbars near pensacola pier and around perdido pass are some of the most consistent surf spots in the gulf (only place maybe more consistent is south of corpus christy, tx, all the way down to vera cruz). These panhandle beaches face just east enough to pick up short period tradewind swells (which is why a wind-blocking jetty can be important). This area also has a little less continental shelf and an offshore trench...don't know how much that helps, though.

generally, the farther east you go, the smaller and less consistent the surf gets because those beaches increasingly face south and west. Only good thing about Destin is the gulf stream seems to brush their beaches and can make the water a little bluer and clearer than anywhere else in the panhandle.

 

Hey Emass, let me know how you like the area after you've sampled it. I actually considered relocating there not long ago, but decided to stick with the PNW. That area of the country has always interested me. I guess I got a little bummed when I saw 1) those photos of that 800 lb. Mako that was caught there last month, and 2) that hella storm that flooded everything out a few weeks back. Throw in the whole Hurricane Alley thing, and I pussed out like a champ.

Anyways, give us the full Scooby when you get back.

Paz y olas...............

 

Man that is so true. I spent a good bit of time in Mississippi after Katrina trying to help out, and people who had just been through a devastating hurricane were twice as friendly as people on the Delmarva are on a good day. Its one of those clichés that is actually based in reality
As far as waves go I've scored Pensacola good. chest high and really fun. While spots in Alabama were a mushy 1-2 foot. If there's swell in the gulf, make the drive to Pensacola for waves and then get back to Alabama for the cooler vibe.

 

waterbaby is spot on. I lived in Pcola for 24 years....surfed there about 6 of those years. I was just back there a month ago...the sandbars east of Pcola Beach pier are pretty broken up and crappy due to the "renourishment" projects (awesome for pompano fishing though). Went out behind The Dock and the sandbar was still in place and working pretty damn good. The parking lot for Alabama Point is fenced off completely now, even the fishing seawall. Orange Beach pier was pretty fun too, the floods were aweful and there were random boats and wood floating in the lineup. PM me if you want, there's alot of beach there but don't want to upset anyone by name-dropping a spot.

 

If your lucky you might get in on some of this intense action.

 

I was stationed in P'cola 1980-81. Went though Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School there. Loved the Gulf Coast and had hoped to relocate there; but other than several vacations and business trips to the area (including Panama City Beach), that never happened.
Hope to perhaps retire in the Mobile, AL area near Fairhope or further south if wife can be convinced. Oldest daughter is attending U of Alabama in Huntsville working on her Masters and has an internship with NASA. She hopes to stay in the area.
Didn't surf while living in P'cola. The area wasn't noted for that. Windsurfing and sailing, fishing, drinking rum colas on the beach, cold beer with oysters on the half shell, and partying with visiting college gals were my pastimes. The Blue Angel wives back then were also a wild bunch.

 

Da night life is where da tail is at, ese'.

 

My whole extended family on my dad's side is from that area, been goin' to Gulf Shores / Orange Beach / Fort Morgan etc. since I was a toddler... for nightlife you kinda MUST check out the Florabama (HUGE night club / beach bar right on the Florida/Alabama line -- lots of live bands, lots of drunk redneck girls)...

But yeah, never surfed there.

 

None of those look like squid wives to me.

 

The Floribama was there in 80-81 but perhaps in a more primitive form. The memory isn't clear, as most of us were pretty lit up that night.

 

If you don't catch the swell you can go to the skatepark in Milton Fl. It is a pretty cool little park. All concrete with a small bowl that flows into a 12 foot bowl. Go early to avoid the crowds and get ready to sweat. It is hot as fvck down here

 

Man, that's a bummer that it's going to be OH during the part of the weekend that you'll be busy with work - ballz deep in work. LOL. That was funny how you spelled "Ballz" with a Z. I like stuff like that.

What kind of work do you do? Maybe you could ask your boss if you could slip out during that part of the weekend for an hour or two so you could shred them peaks.

What part of the weekend will it be OH? What will the other parts be?

Well, I hope you score. Jeez, I didn't even know Alabama was a real place much less that they had surfing waves. LOL I'm silly, I guess!!! I'm learning a about surfing from this website. Most of you guys seem to have a lot of knowledge and experience.

Thanks guys !!!

 

penalty flag - this is a post from the deranged retired ophthalmologist sharing a long term care room
in Davenport, Iowa.