Bart Bailey is a charter captain/ stone crabber/ commercial fisher who has been fishing for 30 years inshore and offshore. He has stayed in Naples his entire life except when he ran a tuna boat from ’85 to ’92 in the Gulf of Mexico. He says he has been stone crabbing since ’92 and has spent most of the last two years running charters. 

Rick Matthews is an experienced fisherman who has witnessed the detrimental effects of red tide on fisheries. He emphasizes the connection between red tide and development, drawing upon his knowledge of past events to underscore the potential impact of environmental factors on fish populations.

Scope and Content Note

Bart Bailey and Rick Matthews discuss the negative effects of red tide on their fishing activities, particularly the decline in king fish population. They explain how the red tide has pushed the fish further south, reducing the number of fish in their usual fishing areas. Matthews and Bailey say that they have to travel around 50 miles instead of 15 miles to find king fish, increasing costs and travel time. Bart suggests starting a stone crab charter to mitigate the effects of red tide, but there are obstacles such as dockage and hotel commissions. They express frustration over the lack of assistance and information available regarding red tides. Bart recalls seeing dead fish on the beach, but the composition has changed over time. They say that red tide typically doesn't affect stone crabs, but this time it killed them off. They note that the recent red tide severely affected the live bottom, which was unprecedented. Bart talks about why he shifted focus to charter fishing during the previous year's red tide event, but the recovery period was uncertain. The interview reveals the significant impact of red tide on fish populations and concerns about the future.