A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

  • Collection DOI:
    Principal Investigator:
    Matthew McPherson, Mandy Karnauskas, Suzana Blake

  • This collection was created during the 2017-2018 red tide event that had major ecosystem impacts on the west coast of Florida. Fish harvesters and related businesses suffered major setbacks during this time. Fishers, with a long history on the water and oftentimes second or third generation involved in the fishing business, reminisce about how the ecosystem has changed during their and their families time and the red tides they have witnessed. The collection provides information on species affected, specific areas affected, as well as discussions related to adaptation behaviors and specific business impacts.

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Interviewee Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Al Durrett A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Al Durret is a Marina owner in Fort Myers Beach.  He has been in Fort Myers Beach for thirty-three years.  He sells shrimp as bait. 

Scope and Content Note 

 Amanda Stoltz Fort Myers, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Albert Canfield A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Albert Canfield is a recently retired stone crab fisherman out of Naples.

Scope and Content Note

 Amanda Stoltz Naples, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Bart Bailey and Rick Matthews A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

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. 

 Amanda Stoltz Naples, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Bill Burk A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

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

 Michael Jepson, Mandy Karnauskas Clearwater, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Brad Gorst A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Brad Gorst fishes offshore (commercial and charter) in the grouper snapper fishery as well as for kingfish and Spanish mackerel. He has been in business in Clearwater since 1973. The red tide in 2018 didn’t impact him but the decrease in tourism impacted his bookings for his charter business. 

Scope and Content Note

 Mandy Karnauskas Clearwater, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Bruce Hitchcock A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

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.

 Michael Jepson, Amanda Stoltz Everglades City, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Bryon Holland A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Bryon Holland is an experienced fisherman with a passion for the waters off Johns Pass, where he has been fishing since 1984. With a background in commercial fishing and later transitioning to charter boat fishing, Bryon has extensive knowledge of the region's marine life and fishing patterns. 

Scope and Content Note

 Michael Jepson, Amanda Stoltz Madeira Beach, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Buster McKay A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Biographical Sketch:

Buster McKay is a seasoned fisherman who has been fishing throughout Florida's gulf coast since the late 1940s. He has been fishing Florida’s gulf coast since the early 1940s, commercially catching red snapper and grouper.

Scope and Content:

 Matt McPherson Panama City, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Chuck Cress A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Chuck Cress is a charter captain who moved to Sarasota in 1980, and he fished recreationally while working in retail for 20 years, then spent the last 20 years chartering in the Sarasota Bay. He is an inshore captain and stays within a mile of the shore.

Scope and Content Note:

Captain Chuck Cress describes his work as a charter fisherman in the intercoastal Sarasota Bay, Florida, since 1980. He states he primarily catches tarpon, Spanish mackerel, and king mackerel between Bradenton and Englewood.

 Amanda Stoltz, Karla Gore Sarasota, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Danny Ratfield A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Danny Ratfield is a seasoned expert in Florida's coastal areas and fisheries, with nearly 30 years of experience exploring locations like the Florida Keys and the Everglades. He advocates for studying and addressing red tide and water quality issues to restore the natural balance of the ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of sustainable solutions.

Scope and Content Note

 Unknown Panama City, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
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