BigBendFishing.Net

Northwest Region: Water samples collected this week from northwest Florida detected medium concentrations of Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism 2 to 19 miles west of the mouth of St. Andrews Bay (Bay County). K. brevis was also detected at background to very low concentrations in St. Joseph Bay (Gulf County). Reports of fish kills, discolored water and respiratory irritation have been received from the Panama City area and portions of Walton County. Respiratory irritation remains possible in areas with above background concentrations of K. brevis and fish kills are possible at concentrations above LOWb.

wevans wrote:The forecast strong North winds should help keep it out

REGIONAL RED TIDE SUMMARIES (October 5)
East Region: A red tide bloom continues to impact the northeast Florida coast this week with concentrations of Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, detected from Amelia Island (Nassau County) to Daytona Beach (Volusia County). Background to low concentrations of K. brevis remain present alongshore of Nassau and Duval counties. Southward movement of the bloom occurred this week transporting the area of highest concentration to St. Johns and Flagler counties resulting in numerous reports of fish kills and respiratory irritation. Low to medium concentrations have also been detected in Volusia County this week as far south as Daytona Beach. Additional samples collected in Brevard and Indian River counties contained no K. brevis. While red tide does not commonly occur in northeast Florida coastal waters, transport of K. brevis blooms from southwest Florida to Florida’s Atlantic coast has been previously documented. Respiratory irritation remains possible in areas with above background populations of K. brevis and fish kills are possible at concentrations greater than LOWb.

Northwest Region: Multiple reports of fish kills and respiratory irritation associated with Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism have been received this week from portions of Walton and Bay counties in northwest Florida. However, alongshore sampling conducted between Escambia and Bay counties has detected little or no K. brevis suggesting that the current bloom, while present, remains slightly offshore. Very low concentrations were detected at Destin Pass and background concentrations were detected near Miramar Beach (Walton County). All other samples, including those collected in and around St. Andrews and Choctawhatchee bays, contained no K. brevis. Offshore samples collected south of Shell Point (Wakulla County) also contained no K. brevis. Respiratory irritation remains possible in areas with above background concentrations of K. brevis and fish kills are possible at concentrations above LOWb.