Red Tide Tampa Bay area

[thegun]

Can anyone provide some first-hand information on the effects of the red tide in the Tampa Bay area? I've read that the dead fish odor on beaches is quite bad, so I wonder if anchorages in the area would be equally unpleasant.

Updates from local sailors would be much appreciated.

The Gun
Boyd Gatlin

[delmarrey]

Man, you must really have a toxic red tide over on the other coast. I've never heard of fish dieing.

Heck, I use to go diving in red tides in San Diego. It was like diving in rusty water but it WAS differant. And I'm still alive. I think......................._/)

[Wahoo Sails]

We're about 100 miles South of Tampa but have the same red tide problem. Very difficult (if not impossible) to breathe at the coast, not just the stench of rotting fish, but the algae itself burns the eyes, nose & throat. Sanibel is a small barrier island here, if I recall properly, they picked up 39 tons of dead fish last weekend alone. To say it's "unpleasant" is a gross understatement.
Here on the Calosahatchee river, we're also besieged with blue/green algae as well ... and now they tell us that, that is toxic as well!!!! 4 months of 90+ degree heat an 90+% humidity and there is black mold everywhere ... red ... green ... black .... sigh ... one more year ... one more year ... and we're outta here!

Bob & Lynn

L S/V Sew Good