Sea Grant & Marine Sciences
Santa Rosa County Extension Service Sea Grant Marine
and Environmental information.
Hot Topics
Gulf Sturgeon
The Gulf Sturgeon is a threatened species found in local rivers during the summer months. These are prehistoric fish that migrate to saltwater for the winter. They can grow to be more than 8 feet long, and weigh more than 300 pounds. These fish spawn in the upper portions of the Escambia, Yellow and Choctawhatchee Rivers in the spring. They are awesome creatures. If you are ever fishing on one of these rivers and you hear a large splash, it is probably that of a gulf sturgeon jumping out of the water, you may even be luckily enough to see one jump. Remember, these are listed species and it is illegal to harvest a gulf sturgeon.
Sea Turtles
Sea Turtles have started their nesting season on our beaches. Be sure and keep lights that face the Gulf of Mexico turned off, covered, or use turtle friendly lights. If you see a turtle nesting, do not disturb her! The sea turtles that utilize our beaches are threatened species. There are fines involved if a person is caught tampering with a nest or harassing a turtle! Female sea turtles usually come back to the same beach they hatched on to lay their eggs.
Hurricane Season
June is also the beginning of hurricane season. A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone, which is the general term for all circulating weather systems over tropical waters. In the Northern Hemisphere these storms circulate in a counterclockwise rotation. Tropical cyclones are classified as follows: Tropical Depression – Maximum sustained winds less than 39 mph Tropical Storm – Maximum sustained wind from 39 to 73 mph Hurricane – Maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or greater. It is not too early to be prepared! Have an emergency plan ready! If you plan to evacuate, know where you will go, the route you will take to get there, when you will leave and what supplies you will take. Start to prepare an emergency kit now.
Go Fishing
Take a kid or a friend fishing! What a great way to spend quality time with your family and friends. Some good places to fish from shore in our area Bear Lake, Hurricane Lake, Karick Lake and along the banks of Blackwater, Escambia and Yellow Rivers at public access sites. For saltwater fishing visit the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier, Shoreline Park, Ft. Pickens Fishing Pier, the new Pier at Pensacola Beach, Okaloosa Island Pier, or the fishing bridge over Pensacola Bay, along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, or at public access sites along our bays and bayous.
