Chilling Out in November

Written by Childs | 04 November 2011

Childs Play

November 2011

                                     Chilling Out in November

     In November the snow birds have descended on Mexico Beach to come down and enjoy the beautiful weather.  You may need a sweater some days, but it feels great.   The feel is different this time of year with cool weather and sunny days almost every day.  In November the average daily high temperature is 73 with a night time low of 49.  The pace has slowed with people enjoying the beautiful days on the sandy beaches while enjoying winter seafood that is second to none. 

     Great fishing is still going on with grouper leading the way.   The grouper season will continue until November 15.  The grouper bite has been very good this year with many caught in the 20 to 25 pound range.  Whiting are showing up in the surf and plenty of people will be fishing for them on the beach and off of the pier. 

     Flounder are plentiful having come out of the bays and creeks to go out to the open sand around the many artificial reefs off of Mexico Beach.  Flounder are spawning now and tend to group up.  Divers report going down on some reefs in the Car Body Permit Area and seeing as many as 50 or 60 flounder stacked up all around the structure. 

     But when you stand back and consider all the great seafood available now, fresh oysters in November are on the top of the list.   The oysters this time of year are the absolute best you can buy.  These fresh, raw oysters out of the Apalachicola Bay are the world’s best tasting oysters.  There are plenty of places in and around Mexico Beach that will serve you up all the oysters you want cooked or raw.  Buy them shucked and served on a plate or buy a bag of your own and shuck them yourself.   Make your own sauce with some ketchup and horseradish mixed with a dash of lemon juice. 

     The diving has slowed down a lot with the colder water, but the hearty divers are still going strong looking for the many fine lobsters found in the hard rock, live bottom off of the shores of Mexico Beach, Indian Pass, and Panama City.  Both spiny lobster and shovel nosed lobster are out there hiding in the cracks and crevices that are abundant in the hard bottom out in the Gulf of Mexico.   Divers use flashlights to peer down in the holes hoping to see those lobsters that hide from the sharp eyes of predators and divers alike.

     People are out walking and jogging every day on the beautiful new sidewalk that runs the length of Mexico Beach.   The beautiful walk along Highway 98 from Toucans down to Lookout Lounge is a mile of beautiful untouched beach with easy access.  Just park your car and walk 200 feet to the sandy white beaches.  This walk is called the “Miracle Mile” by some locals who cannot say enough about the beauty seen in this walk.   Take some time one day and walk this at sunset to view one of the most beautiful scenes that nature gives to us all.  

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