Category Archives: Species Library

East Florida, Sea Shells, Summer Fishing

Getting Out and Having Fun: Social Media From Friends

I’ve decided to start adding social media content from people in the community.  It’s easy enough to to snag images from the web that people are already posting. It’s also a fun way for you to keep up with some of the cool content people are posting in a summarized way. I might also add my comments here about the stuff people are posting.

First I’m going to start with Captain Brandon Fraley’s post about scalloping.  This is actually really cool to hear that Pasco county is now allowing people to scallop. I’ve heard that even as far south as Pinellas in the anclote area we have scallops, although scalloping is not allowed here.  Pasco county borders Pinellas and it’s just a hop, skip and a jump north of Honeymoon Island and Clearwater Beach, our local surf spot. Brandon wrote:

fisheye_sportfishingFirst time in a long time that #scallop season has been open in Pasco County, got our limit and had a great time with @huntergibson243 @marlin365 @got_one_sportfishing now time to get shuckin #gulfofmexico #scallopseason #florida #fisheyesportfishing #ltcustomrods

Captain Brandon Fraley Fisheye Sportfishing Scalloping trip

Landon Perrino posted a thoughtful picture of Tanner Jones wishing him the best with his injury. What I heard from Landon, something you’ll see in the comments, Tanner actually broke his collar bone while trying a board transfer. Injuries are no fun, especially as we gear up for the peak of the hurricane season and the start of winter.
Landon wrote:

landonperrino Wish @tannerj0nes the best of luck with his injury hope you make it to Cali
Tanner Jones collarbone injury

The skim sisters Maddy and Lilly were hanging out on the east coast at a legendary skim spot, Vilano Beach.  There was a pretty rad skim contest going down there.  They were hanging out with the legendary and most gnarly skimboarder who does the gnarliest spin tricks, and originated from the gulf, John Akerman. They were having a blast on the east coast. Skim Sisters & John Akerman wrote:

skim_sistersLilly got 2nd in girls 14 and under Maddy got 3rd in the womens division! So happy to see everyone again. Vilano is one of the best experiences… thank you again Steve @rdsskimco for everything. We love the competition and Vilano more than words can explain . #zapskimboards #represent #joogsquad

jaakermanRight place right time this morning. @codycoleman #surfing #florida #hurricanechris

Skim Sisters Maddy and Lilly in Vilano John Akerman by Cody Coleman Hurricane Chris

 

That’s all for now!

Plants

Florida Red Tide as a State of Emergency

Shocking news that the State of Florida has issued a state of emergency for the annual red tide event happening in the southwestern portion of west Florida. What makes this event so unusual? It sounds inaccurate to suggest that this has been going on for 10 months. It’s doubtful that we had a K. brevis prevalence worth noting before the water temperatures got above 85 degrees. According to one news outlet funding will go to Pinellas in addition to affected counties. Pinellas hasn’t had red tide at all this summer, and we were surfing just three days ago without any red tide. With funding in place what type of uses will it go towards? It’s likely that it will be spent on discretionary expenditures, cleanup, things of that nature, when in reality we should be putting the money into prevention. Check out the red tide state of emergency declaration.

Plants, Research

Red Tide is Engulfing West Florida

Red tide is really bad right now in southwest Florida. According to reporting by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and the University of South Florida, the concentrations of the bacteria called red tide are at high levels on the beaches. Qualitative and quantitative data from a variety of sources are being distributed by these outlets.

At the moment we’re not feeling the effects of this red tide on the northern beaches. We’re still in the dead heat of the summer, so the multiplication of the bacteria which is fueled by heat isn’t expected to slow any time soon.  If this red tide does continue, and if we get a decent storm or a south flow the red tide could be sent up towards the west central Florida beaches. Any potentially significant storm is at least a week and a half out.

Reports from county officials in southwest Florida and secondary reports from Florida Fish and Wildlife officials are listing tons of red tide affected dead fish being cleared from the beaches.  It’s a real mess down there right now.


If a big storm comes into the gulf, I wouldn’t recommend a trip down to Venice. Consider that the abundance of red tide bacteria is at high levels there. Of course, it was like this last year. People still decided to make the trip down there to surf the jetties. It’s not going to kill you, but if the red tide is really intense you could find that breathing without coughing is somewhat difficult. Check out this August 3rd red tide incidence status report.

Birds, North Pinellas, Surf's Up Surf Report

Surf’s Up Surf Report: 2pm on Saturday, 07/21/18

For best resolution download it, or view it on a desktop laptop.

Way smaller surf today. There’s a light onshore breeze. Even the kids are having to ride the bigger boards to catch waves. The tide is on the low end of the low tides, and will start to come in around 3:30. If you’re just waking up like I should be right now if a big roar of a big truck down the street didn’t wake me up, I’d say wait for the evening if at all, maaybe even skip it until tomorrow.