HomeOutdoorsReel Time: The good,...

Reel Time: The good, the bad and the ugly

This past Sunday morning I launched my boat to check out the red tide situation and look for places to fish. In the process what I found both discouraged and encouraged me.  The condition of local waters is deplorable, but we’re blessed with access to some healthy water and fish just to the north along the edges of Tampa Bay.

I started on north Longboat and worked my way to Port Manatee in Tampa Bay. The boat ramp on Longboat was awash in dead sea grass that was thick with dead fish and horseshoe crabs. Longboat Pass and the Bay had a few dead fish but very little signs of life. The same held true for Palma Sola Bay and north to the mouth of Tampa Bay. I explored Perico Bayou and began seeing seabirds, mullet and some baitfish.

reel time red tide fish
Red tide might not be killing only local fish but other sea life as well including seagrass. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun

On the west side of the river on the Bulkhead, I saw someone land a nice trout. Terra Ceia and Miguel bays looked normal with jumping mullet and diving terns. On the east side of the Skyway near Joe Island, the water was clear and full of life. I found similar conditions all the way to the port and in Clam Bar Bay and Bishop’s Harbor.

That’s the good news. On the way back, I decided to run the beach from Bean Point to Longboat Pass. That was a mistake. The water in the Gulf started out bad and got worse the farther south I went.  It was devoid of life, smelled terrible and you couldn’t see more than 6 inches deep.  On my return to the Bay, I noticed grass piled up all along the shoreline leading me to believe the red tide and anoxic conditions are killing seagrass too.

If you’re like me, you’re tired of and frustrated with the barrage of articles, newscasts and posts on the red tide bloom and would like to do something about it.  While there are many things about a red tide bloom we have no control over, there is something we do have control over – how we respond. That response includes actions we can take like the following. Sarasota Bay Estuary Program has compiled a list of eight things people can do personally to help keep the harmful and red tide feeding nutrients out of the bay.

  1. Reduce or eliminate fertilizer use;
  2. Properly dispose of pet waste;
  3. Keep leaves and grass clippings out of the bay – leave them on your yard as natural fertilizer;
  4. Keep rainwater out of the Bay. Direct downspouts into flower beds and the lawn;
  5. Drive less to lower nitrogen and CO2 emissions, which ultimately get into our waters;
  6. Keep your septic system in tip-top shape to avoid nutrient leaks;
  7. Plant native trees and plants to reduce irrigation and help soak up stormwater;
  8. Use a commercial car wash to reduce water use and manage wastewater disposal.

Secondly, we can join an organization like Sarasota Bay Watch that is working to restore populations of scallops and clams that benefit the Bay by filtering and cleaning the water column. Sarasota Bay Watch and other resource minded groups work to integrate youth outreach, experiences, education and leadership opportunities into their activities. This will help ensure that tomorrow’s leaders learn how to love and care for Sarasota Bay and our environment.

Thirdly we can educate ourselves and cast a vote for politicians that don’t put personal and corporate profits ahead of the health of the environment. If you do the research and keep an open mind, I believe the choice will be clear. Hopefully, if there’s the proverbial “pony under here somewhere,” it’s that we will pay attention to our power at the polls and will once again institute reasonable safeguards to our air and water.

Most Popular

More from Author

 Reel Time: Salon fundraiser meets with success

Salon (noun) - a conversational gathering of notables held at the...

Reel Time: Check, check and double check!

How many times have you arrived at the boat ramp to...

Reel Time: Suncoast Waterkeeper’s vision expands

Suncoast Waterkeeper (SCWK) has seen phenomenal growth over the last several...

Reel Time: Harbinger of spring

I just heard my first whippoorwill last night, a harbinger of...

Floridian Mortgage wins championship

ANNA MARIA – Spring has sprung and winter sports at The Center are coming to a close, with team Floridian Mortgage earning the win against team Moss Builders Thursday night in the adult co-ed flag football championship game. The top two teams in the league matched up in...

Man completes Chamber passport program in five hours

ANNA MARIA ISLAND - The annual Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce’s Passport Program is a fun way for residents and visitors to the Island to get out and discover Island businesses with a passport offered for free by the chamber. Participants are encouraged to get their passports...

One ARK Foundation raises funds for foster families

live music, delicious food and spirited fundraising as the One ARK Foundation held its second annual “Kindness Matters Extravaganza” at The Cheesecake Cutie & Cafe on March 21. “One ARK” stands for “one act of random kindness” and is a newly-established 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by The Cheesecake...

Save our homes

This column should be titled “Save our Taxes,” since that’s what we’re really talking about. However, saving on property taxes is part of the Save Our Homes benefits and portability transfers are another piece of this law. In January of 2008, the Florida Legislature passed legislation that allows...

 Reel Time: Salon fundraiser meets with success

Salon (noun) - a conversational gathering of notables held at the home of a prominent person. On Saturday afternoon, Suncoast Waterkeeper held its Suncoast Salon fundraiser at the Sarasota home of Anna Maria residents Bill and Debbie Partridge. The event was a sellout and attracted some of...

Temporary paid parking vendors hired

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners considered four temporary use parking permits at the March 21 commission meeting and after much discussion, approved three with stipulations, denying one. Permit applications were submitted by developer Shawn Kaleta for temporary parking lots at 102 Third St. N., 207 Church Ave. and...

Fire department sued over rental regulations

BRADENTON – Almost a year after passing a resolution changing the district’s approach to taxing and inspecting vacation rental properties in residential areas, West Manatee Fire Rescue is receiving pushback from one rental owner. During a March 19 commission meeting, the district’s attorney, Maggie Mooney, informed the board...

Bridge Street traffic, parking among commission concerns

BRADENTON BEACH – In what was an unusually lengthy, seven-hour city commission meeting that began at noon on March 21, commissioners dove into parking and traffic issues, pickleball and organ donation. BRIDGE STREET ONE WAY? A Bridge Street business owner asked the commission to consider making Bridge Street one...

Scaccianoce new Bradenton Beach commissioner

BRADENTON BEACH – Ward 1 has a new commissioner. The application for commissioner by business owner and former Manatee County records manager Deborah Scaccianoce was approved by the commission and she was sworn in at its March 21 meeting. She filled the vacant seat left by former Commissioner Jake...

Kruse talks beach parking, Island consolidation

HOLMES BEACH – About two dozen people came out on March 20 to meet with Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse, bringing their questions for the candidate, who is seeking re-election in November. Kruse held a town hall meeting at the Island Branch Library where he answered every question...

Commissioners deny bids for paid parking

BRADENTON BEACH – Rather than partnering with an outside vendor as planned, commissioners are now considering city-managed paid parking lots throughout Bradenton Beach. The city had put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) on Feb. 9 to “Provide the City with a complete parking management and enforcement system...