Bruce Hitchcock is an experienced fisherman and fishing guide residing in Everglades City. He primarily focuses on inshore and backcountry fishing. He has been fishing in the area for over 40 years and has been diving there for 25 years. Throughout his time in Everglades City, he has almost never noticed any Red Tide event until 2012. Hitchcock alludes to several fish kills, but attributes them to other harmful algal blooms/oxygen depletion not related to Red Tide. 

Scope and Content Note

Bruce Hitchcock reflects on how fishing has changed over the years. He notes that fishing was much easier four decades ago, and now it requires more effort to catch fish. He discusses the migratory patterns of certain fish species and suggests that the decline in offshore fishing could be attributed to Red Tide impacting the baitfish population. He highlights the importance of baitfish and their decline due to the deterioration of seagrass habitats. The interview also covers instances of Red Tide in the area, including one that occurred after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Bruce witnessed dead fish and birds during that event. Bruce comments on how these Red Tide occurrences have affected fishing and tourism, with potential customers inquiring about Red Tide conditions before booking trips. He also briefly touches on other environmental issues affecting the region, such as algae growth and the decline of seagrass, which has disrupted the food chain and impacted fish populations. He notes that pollutants and nutrients are affecting the water quality and seagrass beds, causing a decline in fish populations. He mentions that this decline has been noticeable for about 20 years but has become more dramatic recently, especially within the last three months. Bruce also talks about the impact of hurricanes, particularly Hurricane Irma, which caused significant damage to the area and affected fishing conditions. 

Hitchcock also mentions the the Caloosahatchee River and St. Lucie River, particularly related to red tide and algae blooms. He mentions that the water from Lake Okeechobee is being pumped down through canals to the Fort Lauderdale area, and this has caused severe damage to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie areas. Bruce highlights the impact of human activities, such as development and the use of fertilizers, as contributing factors to the environmental degradation. He also talks about the decline in tourism and fishing activities following events like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which further affect the local economy.