st. andrews, florida panhandle

We have fallen in love with salt life. St Andrews state park is right outside of panama city but you would never know it because it feels so remote. Our mornings were spent by watching the sun rise at the jetty where we fished for Spanish macral. There were dolphins jumping right there and huge cranes edging closer and closer to anybody with a pole just waiting to steal your catch. Both boys caught some and we had delicious fish fries for breakfast.
The beach there had something for everyone. There was an aquamarine lagoon, shallow with no waves. On the other side there is huge surf attracting surfers and kite boarders. We spent our time there in those huge waves, bobbing in the swells and dodging under the surf. It was incredible to feel the endless power! Each of us, at one point, would have our timing off and swim into the wave too late, at which point the wave takes you and throws you around like a washing machine....very scary but fun too. We all got full body salt water cleanses. The dolphins were there too and at one point we saw a huge shadow in the water right by us. Stephanie was certain it was a shark, Chris thought dolphin and some beachers said it was a giant sting ray. The shark thought was persistent in our minds because while fishing we met a fellow fishing for bait who also fishes for sharks in the same area we were swimming. He had caught a 13' maco shark there! Yikes!