Bill Burk is a seasoned fisherman and expert in the fishing industry with over four decades of experience. As a native of North Florida, he has witnessed and adapted to the changing fishing practices and environmental impacts on the Gulf Coast. 

Scope and Content Note

In the interview, Captain Bill Burk discusses his experiences with Red Tide events in the Clearwater area. He mentions witnessing a severe Red Tide event in the 1970s that devastated the marine life, particularly reef fish like grouper and goliath grouper. Bill speculates that Red Tide occurrences seem unpredictable and do not follow a specific pattern. He also notes that the impact of Red Tide events can vary in different locations, with some areas being more affected than others. Overall, he emphasizes that Red Tide remains a complex and enigmatic natural phenomenon. He recalls how Red Tide affected fishing seasons in the past, limiting fishing opportunities from Memorial Day to Labor Day. On more recent events, like the one in 2005 and the most recent one, Bill says they were patchy along the coast, forcing fishermen to adjust their fishing locations to avoid the affected areas. While Red Tide events have caused fish kills, Bill notes that certain fish, such as mangrove snappers, seem less affected by Red Tide.