Red Tide works its way into our area
By ED WALKER
Published September 23, 2006
The big news on the coast right now is the return of Red Tide to the southern end of Pasco County. These reports have been coming in since last Saturday, when flats guides first reported their bait dying in their baitwells and dead and dying fish near Anclote Key in Tarpon Springs. Over the subsequent days, the outbreak has been moving north and getting worse.
Bill Hackney of Harts Bait and Tackle ran his boat out of Baillies Bluff in south Pasco on Wednesday and encountered a large number of bloated dead fish floating on the surface from the mainland shore to the sand bar north of Anclote Key. "There were lots of dead fish from the flats out to 20 feet of water" he said.
A latest onset of Red Tide is bad news for fish and fishermen in the Nature Coast area. Last summer's outbreak wiped out the nearshore reefs and rock piles from New Port Richey to Hernando Beach and in most areas south of there. According to scientists, more than 2,500 square miles were affected in what is believed to the worst Red Tide outbreak in the history of the Gulf Coast. Not only were thousands of grouper, snapper and other game fish killed, marine organisms from corals to sponges died. This left the once-productive nearshore limestone outcroppings devoid of life. For many months there were no fish, plants, or invertebrates to be found. Even migratory bait schools bypassed these dead zones, which in turn became less attractive to predatory fish species.
This spring, divers began to see signs of a recovery. Small hogfish and undersized gag grouper had returned, and some small corals and sponges were beginning to be seen.
The last thing this sensitive ecosystem needs is more Red Tide. With any luck, this latest outbreak will be small and short-lived. Some areas to the south, such as John's Pass and Saint Petersburg, are having encounters with the 2006 Red Tide, but not nearly on the same scale as last year.
Many people believe that cooler water is less conducive to the spread of the organism, and they are hoping for a strong blast of cold air from the north. Then again, last year's outbreak began in January near Sarasota and spread for miles on the coast in cold water.
At the moment, the best places to fish will likely be either north of Hudson or outside 50 feet of water in the gulf. If you do encounter dead fish while heading out, turn your baitwell pump off until it looks like you have passed through the affected area. Baits in the well are much more susceptible to the Red Tide than those in the water, so if you run through even a mild concentration of the organism your bait will likely die. Bring along a few boxes of frozen sardines, just in case.
Redfish and trout fishing should continue to be excellent in the clean waters off Aripeka and Homosassa. Spanish mackerel fishing has been good, and big numbers of kingfish were reported in 50 feet of water off Hernando Beach last weekend. Most of the kings have been "schoolies" that generally run in the 10- to 15-pound class. What these fish lack in size they make up for in numbers. It is not uncommon to find 100 small kings swimming in a migrating herd. A live sardine tossed into these schools is almost always attacked by the ravenous kings. Look for them to be increasing in numbers for the next 30 days.
Ed Walker charters out of Tarpon Springs. Call 727 944-3474 or e-mail info@light tacklecharters.com.