something to do every day of the year

Pensacola Ice Pilots
The Pensacola Ice Pilots will begin their 12th anniversary season in October 2007 with a new head coach and assistant coach. Head coach John Marks joined team in April 2007.

He has 13 years of coaching experience with the East Coast Hockey League including most recently with the Greenville Grrrowl. Phil Russell recently joined the Ice Pilots as assistant coach, after playing 15 seasons in the NHL.

The Ice Pilots are owned by Mario Forgione, who owns an investment group in Ontario. Forgione is entering his third season as the Ice Pilots owner.

The Ice Pilots have participated in numerous charity events and have helped raised money for different charities in the area.

Their home ice at the Pensacola Civic Center is dubbed “The Hangar.” 2007-2008 Season Tickets, Mini Plans, and Military Packages are available through the Ice Pilots office.

Call (850) 432-PUCK or visit www.pensacolaicepilots.com for more information.

Pensacola Pelicans
Playing May through August at the attractive baseball park at the University of West Florida, the Pensacola Pelicans offer great, affordable family entertainment and top-notch baseball.

In 2001 the Southeastern Association of Professional Baseball brought the sport back to Pensacola. In the middle of the 2002 season, Quint and Rishy Studer bought the Pelicans franchise from the league.

In 2004, the Pelicans joined the Central Baseball League. The CBL, formerly the Texas- Louisiana League, is made up of eight teams: Jackson Senators, Shreveport Sports, Fort Worth Cats, Edinburg Roadrunners, El Paso Diablos, San Angelo Colts, Coastal Bend Aviators and the Pensacola Pelicans.

They won the CBL East Division Second Half Championship, however, they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the East Division rival Shreveport Sports three games to two.

2006 was another breakout year for the Pelicans organization.

The team broke several attendance records including a record crowd of more than 4,200 fans at the last game of the season.

Off the field, the biggest milestone in Pensacola baseball history was passed in the Vince Whibbs Community Maritime Park.

The Park features a multi- purpose stadium which will be the home of the Pelicans, UWF classrooms and conference center and a maritime museum.

The Pelicans are expected to play their first game in 2009. The Pelicans regular-season games are broadcast live on WCOA-AM’s NewsTalk 1370. Season-ticket information is available by calling 850-934-8444 or at www.pensacolapelicans.com.

Snowball Derby
The Snowball Derby, one of the most prestigious short-track races in the United States, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

The event will be marked by week-long activities beginning Nov. 29 and leading up the race on Dec. 2. The Derby draws more than 10,000 fans to Pensacola in early December to see fast-action stock-car racing at Five Flags Speedway.

The half-mile, high-banked oval celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2003, making it one of the oldest established tracks that has been in continuous operation since its opening in 1953.

With several past record times broken, Five Flags Speedway has garnered recognition as the world’s fastest half-mile track.

Races begin in March and continue through December.

The track is located one mile south of I-10 on Pine Forest Road.

For ticket information and racing dates call (850) 944-8400 or go online to 5flagsspeedway.com.

Pensacola Recreation
Pensacola’s 95 city parks and seven athletic facilities has what you want.

Parks and community centers in the Pensacola Bay Area offer a variety of places and activities for everyone—even the family dog.

The city of Pensacola opened two new dog parks at Bayview Park and the Roger Scott Athletic Complex.

The enclosed areas give pets a place to play and interact with other dogs.

Tennis Anyone?
Tradition, progress and family are hallmarks of Roger Scott Tennis Center.

There is a long-standing tradition of developing great champions from junior level to adult seniors.

Roger Scott is the host for the Boys and Girls National Open and is home to the USTA 4.0 Women’s National Champions and the USTA 5.0 Men’s National second-place team.

The International Wheelchair Tournament came to Roger Scott for the first time in 2004.

With 17 lighted hard courts and backboard, a deluxe pro-shop and a swimming pool next door, this is one of the area’s premier tennis facilities.

The courts stay busy during the day with morning tennis clinics and the Greater Pensacola Ladies Tennis League matches.

Men’s and women’s team tennis is offered in the spring and fall through the United States Tennis Association.

Roger Scott also is a great place to play men’s and women’s quads.

The teaching staff dedicate the afternoons to junior clinics, from pee-wee to highly advanced.

Racquet Round-Up, a free four-day clinic for kids, is the largest in the South.

Weekly summer camp at Roger Scott focuses on tennis fundamentals with swimming, arts and crafts, and fun for everyone.

The center offers single and family annual memberships. Non-members pay daily court fees.

Ball Parks
The Roger Scott Athletic Complex’s fields are used day and night for soccer, baseball and softball.

The hub of the complex is the Vickery Center with facilities for art classes, a gym for basketball and volleyball and carpeted rooms for step aerobics, Pilates and martial arts.

The center offers summer camps for ages 6-11 and a teen camp for ages 12- 14. The camp provides swimming and indoor and outdoor activities. It is also the headquarters for the city of Pensacola’s youth soccer, T-ball and baseball programs.

Exchange Park in East Pensacola Heights is a 13-acre complex of well-lighted fields used by area schools and city leagues for T-ball, baseball and softball.

City Pools
Families fill up the Roger Scott Municipal Swimming Pool daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Lifeguards are always on duty.

If you want to swim year-round, indoor and outdoor swimming is offered at the Cecil T. Hunter Municipal Swimming Pool just off of I-110 at Blount Street.

Also, the University of West Florida offers public swim hours at its indoor Olympicsize pool.

The pool is often used for competitive swimming and diving meets.

Stay and Play
West of downtown Pensacola, the Corinne Jones Community Center on Government Street offers picnics, open houses and special black history celebrations.

This community center’s doors are always open to kids and their parents who want an opportunity to meet people through book reviews, table games and fitness classes.

On Tuesday and Thursdays, Youth at Play, a supervised program, is designed to give children a safe place to play.

Dancing and Swinging
Each Spring, Gull Point Community Center on Creighton Road stages a dance recital for students of tap, jazz and ballet.

The center includes picnic areas, workout facilities, a gym and ballfield.

Close by is one of the most well-designed playgrounds in the city.

Heitzman Optimist Park on Langley Boulevard gives kids of all ages a thrill when they see the multi-level jungle gym and slide.

Next door is the branch YMCA and swimming pool.

The main YMCA is in downtown Pensacola.

Senior Citizens For residents 50 years or older, Bayview Senior Citizens Center located on 30 beautiful acres overlooking Bayou Texar provides a library, rental facilities, fitness classes, and the AARP comes here for its meetings.

The center hosts the Pensacola Senior Games held in October.

On the first Tuesday of every month, the Alzheimer Support Group conducts its meetings.

The senior citizens’ covered-dish luncheon meets the third Saturday of each month.

Canoeing and Camping
The Pensacola Bay Area is known for its variety of rivers, bayous, bays and beaches.

Adventures Unlimited, located on Coldwater Creek in Milton, offers camping, canoeing, kayaking and tubing on four streams, and even a ropes course.

Fort Pickens on Pensacola Beach and Big Lagoon State Park near Perdido Key have designated campsites.

Lake Stone Campground in Century provides a rural retreat only 30 miles north of Pensacola.

Arts in the Park
Some of the oldest parks are in downtown Pensacola.

Every September, the streets around Seville Square in downtown Pensacola’s historic district fill up with people wanting to taste the Seafood Festival’s finest catch of the day.

Bordering the shady park, booths with displays of hand-made jewelry, clothing, pottery and other wares entice shoppers to spend the day enjoying the wonderful outdoors.

During the first weekend of November, the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival turns Seville Square into the city’s largest outdoor art gallery.

The gazebo turns into an outdoor stage for the Evenings in Olde Seville Square every Thursday.

Recreation Facilities
Bayview Community Center, (850) 436-5188

Bayview Senior Citizens Center, (850) 436-5190

East Pensacola Heights Club House, (850) 436-5188

E.S. Cobb Community Center, (850) 436-5192

Fricker Community Center, (850) 436-5195

Gull Point Community Center, (850) 494-7360

William J. “Red” Vickery Community Center, (850) 595-1258

Athletic Facilities Exchange Park, (850) 595-1045

Malcolm Yonge Center, (850) 595-1045

Cecil T. Hunter Municipal Swimming Pool, (850) 436-5197

Scott Complex Municipal Swimming Pool, (850) 595-1220

Roger Scott Municipal Tennis Center, (850) 595-1260

Osceola Municipal Golf Course, (850) 453-7599

Roger Scott Athletic Complex, (850) 435-1805

Recreational Areas:

Blackwater River State
Park The Blackwater River State Park is located 15 miles northeast of Milton.

The park offers camping, swimming, fishing, nature studies, hiking and horse stables for riding.

Bring a lunch and spend the day.

Guided walks are available and campfire programs are offered seasonally.

The park is located 15 miles northeast of Milton, off U.S. 90. For information: (850) 983-5363.

Blackwater Heritage Trail State Park
The Blackwater Heritage Trail is an 8.5 mile paved trail that begins at the corner of U.S. 87 and U.S. 90 in downtown Milton and continues north to the eastern boundary of the Whiting Field Naval Air Station.

This winding trail is excellent for biking, running, walking and roller-skating.

The park is wheelchair accessible and pet friendly—all pets must be leashed.

On the trail, one might encounter alligators, northern harriers, river otters, bobcats, Florida pine snakes, osprey and the southeastern kestrel. For information call (850) 983-5363.

Canoe and Kayak Rentals
Adventures Unlimited, (850) 623-6197

Bob’s Canoe Rental and Sales, (850) 623-5457

Blackwater Canoe Rental, (850) 623-0235

Milton Parks and Recreation Information, (850) 983-5466

Big Lagoon State Park
The sandy beaches and salt marshes of Big Lagoon State Park provide important habitats for numerous birds and animals.

For birdwatchers, there are cardinals, towhees, brown thrashers and nuthatches in the uplands and great blue herons and many other species that frequent the park’s lake marshes.

An observation tower at the east beach area gives visitors a panoramic view of Big Lagoon and Perdido Key across the Intracoastal Waterway.

There is also a large amphitheater for group meetings that can be rented.

Big Lagoon State Park is located on County Road 292A, approximately 10 miles southwest of Pensacola. Call (850) 492-1595.

Gulf Islands National Seashore Parks
The Fort Pickens and Naval Live Oaks areas are the two best sites to view wildlife in Florida's portion of this national seashore.

The Fort Pickens area is located on the western end of Santa Rosa Island.

The Naval Live Oaks area is located near Gulf Breeze on the mainland. Both sites offer interpretive centers, trails, ranger-led walks and excellent birding during spring migration.

Fort Pickens includes beach, dune, salt marsh, and scrub upland habitats, while Naval Live Oaks is covered mostly by hammocks of live oak, magnolia, hickory, and red cedar.

For information call (850) 934-2600.

Navarre Beach State Park
Navarre Beach State Park is a 100-acre park on the Santa Rosa Sound.

Activities at the park include swimming and picnicking. Navarre Beach State Park is located on Gulf Beach Boulevard across Santa Rosa Sound from the city of Navarre Beach on U.S. 98. For information visit
www.florida stateparks.org/navarrebeach/default.cfm.

Panhandle Butterfly House & Nature Walk of Navarre
At the Panhandle Butterfly House, visitors can get an up-close view of more than 200 butterflies at this beautiful indoor butterfly garden.

Guides are available to help identify 1,200 butterfly-attracting native plants for a hands-on experience.

All stages of the butterfly’s development can be observed in its natural habitat.

The Nature Walk, a 1-mile waterfront boardwalk that meanders along the Santa Rosa Sound, offers a spring-fed fishpond, playground equipment and a picnic and recreation area.

The Butterfly House operated by volunteer Master Gardeners and is open May 1 through Labor Day.

Details: Theresa Friday (850) 623-3868.

Shoreline Park
On Shoreline Drive in Gulf Breeze, Shoreline Park South edges up to the Santa Rosa Sound offering a view of Pensacola Beach.

This popular boat launch is only 7 miles from the Pensacola Pass, where the sound meets the Gulf of Mexico.

Across the street is a recreation center and large playgrounds for children.

Golf Courses

PENSACOLA

AC Read/NAS, Bldg. 3495 Naval Air Station . . . . . . .(850) 452-2454

Champion Golf Course, 109 Mintz . . . . . . . . . . . . .(850) 968-9325

Creekside Golf Club, 5555 Esperanto Drive . . . . .. . .(850) 944-7969

Marcus Pointe Golf Club, 2500 Oak Pointe Drive . . . .(850) 484-9770

Osceola Municipal Golf Course , 300 Tonawanda Drive (850) 453-7599

Pensacola Country Club, 1500 Bayshore Drive . . . . . .(850) 455-7364

Scenic Hills Country Club, 8891 Burning Tree Road . .(850) 476-0611

Solutia Golf Course, 2365 Old Chemstrand . . . . .....(850) 937-3820

PACE

Stonebrook Golf Club,3200 Cobblestone Drive . . . . . .(850) 994-7171

MILTON AREA

The Moors Golf & Racquet Club, 3220 Avalon Blvd.. . .(850) 995-4653

Tanglewood Golf Club, 5916 Tanglewood Drive . . . . .(850) 623-6176

Whiting Field Golf Course, 8271 Intrepid Road . . . . .(850) 623-7348

GULF BREEZE

Tiger Point Golf and Country Club
1255 Country Club Drive. (850) 932-1333

NAVARRE

Hidden Creek, 3070 PGA Blvd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(850) 939-4604

GULF SHORES, ALA.

Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club, 20 Peninsula Blvd. . . .(251) 968-8009

PERDIDO KEY

Lost Key Golf Club, 625 Lost Key Drive . .. . . . . . . . .(850) 492-1300

Perdido Bay Golf Club, 1 Doug Ford Drive . . . . . . . . .(850) 492-1223

Fishing Pensacola

by chris Phillips

Pensacola has a fishing opportunity for everyone, whether you’re a lifelong angler or have never dropped a line in the water.

The options are unlimited when it comes to fishing in Pensacola: you can fish from a boat, bridge, pier or the beach.

Even better, you have the opportunity to fish in rivers, bays, bayous or the Gulf of Mexico.

Saltwater fishing is basically divided into two different categories, inshore and offshore.

Inshore fishing is classified as fishing in Pensacola Bay, Santa Rosa Sound, East Bay, as well as some of the other canals and bayous.

Once you venture into the Gulf of Mexico you are fishing offshore. Other types of fishing like surf fishing and cobia fishing may be classified a little differently.

Inshore fishing is much better for beginners—you’re always in sight of land and likely only a few miles from where you launched your boat.

Pensacola has many inshore options depending on the time of year, as well as water conditions. Speckled trout, flounder and redfish are the most popular catches for inshore anglers, but you will encounter much more while hunting for them.

During the winter and spring fishing for sheepshead is very popular.

During the summer it’s hard to keep the fish off your hook.

You can expect to catch good amounts of flounder, a fish that we gig in the fall. Also schooling fish like Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and ladyfish become abundant in the bay.

The best thing to start with is red snapper.

Pensacola is known as the red snapper capital of the world. Red snapper season opens on April 15 and closes Oct. 31.

While bottom fishing for red snapper, you’ll come across a variety of other fish including grouper, amberjack, triggerfish, mingo snapper and black snapper.

If you like being offshore in the Gulf of Mexico but don’t like the bottom fishing, there are plenty of other options. You can fish within a few miles of the beach and catch bonito, king mackerel and Spanish mackerel.

Once you get about 25 miles offshore you’ll also be able to catch wahoo, dolphin, tuna and the occasional marlin or sailfish.

If your focal point is marlin and tuna, you’ll want to get at least 50 miles offshore.

If you haven’t convinced yourself to buy a boat you have plenty of options, too.

You can fish from the bridges, beach or piers.

A local favorite is the Pensacola Beach Gulf Fishing Pier. It’s located right in the center of Pensacola Beach. A wide variety of fish can be caught from the pier at different times of year including king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, cobia, pompano, redfish, flounder, bluefish, and sheepshead. The cost for fishing at the pier is $6.50, and it is open 24 hours a day.

For those of you in search of freshwater fish you’ll need to travel to the north end of town.

While many people classify Pensacola as a saltwater fishing community, we have some excellent freshwater fishing also.

Some of our popular lakes include Hurricane, Bear, Karrick, and Stone. You’ll find the best river action on Escambia, Blackwater, Perdido or Yellow.

If you don’t feel confident in your ability to find fish on your own, there are plenty of charter boats. There’s a boat and captain out there for just about any type of fishing you want to try.

Sometimes even if you have spent a lot of time on the water, taking a charter can be a great time as well as a great learning experience.

For newcomers, frequent visits to local tackle shops are the best way to get reliable information about when, where and how to catch fish in the Pensacola area.

The Internet also provides a lot of help.

You’ll find many different Web sites that have valuable information.

Pensacolafishingforum.com has an excellent message board and enables you to ask local experts questions.

And be sure to check the Thursday’s Pensacola News Journal’s Hook, Line & Sinker section for the latest fishing news.

You can log on to www.pnj.com for the online edition.

Pensacola is also a well known place for fishing tournaments.

Locally, we have major tournaments for marlin, king mackerel, speckled trout, redfish, cobia and bass. There are many different rodeos and tournaments that have multiple categories in them.

Even if you’re not fishing in these tournaments, they can be very exciting just to go and watch other anglers bring their prize catches to the scales.

Don’t forget: a fishing license is required in the state of Florida.

Florida residents with a valid Florida driver's license do not need a fishing license when fishing in saltwater from land. If you’re fishing in freshwater, you need a license regardless of if you are in a boat or on land.

A yearly resident license is $13.50 each or $25.50 for both freshwater and saltwater.

For non-residents, a license is needed anywhere you fish. A three day license is available for $6.50, a week license for $16.50, or a yearly license for $31.50.

That price only includes either freshwater or saltwater; if you want both it’ll cost you double.

Licenses can be purchased at bait and tackle shops.