Do you swim in October in sowal?

[Beach Runner]

It's better than March or April. ;-)

I don't even attempt to get in the water during spring break. I am very cold natured.

October 15 is about my cut-off date for a good swim and this is from someone who likes her water like soup. ;-)

The first weekend in October the Gulf is nice and warm. The second weekend it's usually good. But October 15 (when we're there for fall break) is my cutoff, too.

 

[ls2006vacay]

So what's the deal with black flies? Is that an Oct. thing? Is it every year? I am not familiar. I have one vague childhood memory of them though..

 

[Geo]

So what's the deal with black flies? Is that an Oct. thing? Is it every year? I am not familiar. I have one vague childhood memory of them though..

From what I recall the flies come mostly in September as a result of shifting winds (coming from the north).

Get some Cactus Juice and you'll be fine. I think For the Health of It and a few other places on 30A sell it...

Yes- the Gulf is very swim worthy in October...

 

[ThirtyAGal]

Cactus juice? The last remedy I heard down there was Publix distilled vinegar (which really doesn't work that well). Tell me more....

 

[Geo]

Cactus juice? The last remedy I heard down there was Publix distilled vinegar (which really doesn't work that well). Tell me more....

I don't know how or why it works so well. I only know for certain that it does-

Cactus Juice

 

[happy2Bme]

Yeah, I know, we just left and I'm already trying to come back..

Is October swimmable? Weather.com said the avg high was 80. I'm thinking that might be a little cool for my toddler (?) Or is it really warm enough to swim?
Maybe Sept would be better?

I prefer to live vicariously off the tourists.....being a Southern Floridian, transplanted to "the north", my blood is WAY to thin to swim in anything but a heated pool/jacuzzi come October!

 

[scooterbug44]

October could be chilly for a toddler, but it's a great time to swim for older kids/adults.

I swim Easter to Halloween, but I am a water baby who used to swim in snow melt.

 

[Matt J]

Cactus juice? The last remedy I heard down there was Publix distilled vinegar (which really doesn't work that well). Tell me more....

Cactus Juice is a repellent, IIRC the distilled vinegar is to south bites. Although usually ammonia works good for insect bites, vinegar for jellyfish.

 

[SRB Pete]

Yeah, I know, we just left and I'm already trying to come back..

Is October swimmable? Weather.com said the avg high was 80. I'm thinking that might be a little cool for my toddler (?) Or is it really warm enough to swim?
Maybe Sept would be better?

Is the wild bear a Catholic? Does the pope ... (er, never mind)

 

[Grayton Kid]

Yeah, I know, we just left and I'm already trying to come back..

Is October swimmable? Weather.com said the avg high was 80. I'm thinking that might be a little cool for my toddler (?) Or is it really warm enough to swim?
Maybe Sept would be better?

I swim year round, haha. I surf so I get in the water whenever the waves are up, not going by the temperature. I think it feels nice in October, it might be a little chilled though.