With the USA finally open to EU citizens after 2 years of covid entry blockades
a trip to Florida was once again possible.
The destination would be Naples in SW Florida.
Unfortunately hurricane Ian ruined the lives and property on the SW coast and
my plans to travel there.
It all happened a day or two before my departure so I was not able to arrange a plan
B on short notice.

It took me more than a week to figure out that plan B.
Having read a forum post on SOL about NW Florida I arranged a trip to Pensacola beach.
The area was totally unknown to me so I expected fishing to be a struggle.
For a change that assumption was totally correct.

I cursed the place many times for the lack of fish or my inability to track and catch them.
But as I explored more of the area I made a little progress in catching fish.
I had high hopes of sight fishing the beach but on most days the surf was too rough
for flyfishing and not much was moving.

My choice for Pensacola beach being a barrier island and next to a national park
was a good choice.
The bay in the back was fishable most of the times albeit lacking bigger fish.
In the end the largest fish came from the bay and it was exactly as I had
envisioned it, getting a large redfish on sight from a big school.

The goals of catching seatrout and flounder where also met with the
seatrout appearing after a cold front passed the area.
The letdowns where the bluefish (not present) and the pompano from the beach.
The only pompano I got where the small ones.

So all in all mixed emotions about this trip but the area has enough potential
for a return trip with the insights I have gathered.
I did best at Ft. Pickens in the national park.
And since Pensacola NAS is adjacent to the Fort you can watch the Navy’s
Blue Angels on their practice twice a week if weather and season permits.