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

Captain Will Thompson is a seasoned fisherman with over 25 years of experience fishing in the Sarasota area. For the past 15 years, he has been actively involved in the charter business, specializing in offshore and near shore fishing with extensive knowledge of targeting species like snapper, grouper, kingfish, goliath grouper, sharps, and cobia.

Scope and Content Note

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

Will Ward is a seasoned fisherman and marine industry expert with over five decades of experience in Florida's coastal waters. From his early years working on boats as a teenager to becoming a licensed US Coast Guard Captain and running fishing charters, commercial boats, and seafood companies, Will has honed his expertise across various fisheries. He is a Florida native, with a family history spanning five generations in the state.

Scope and Content Note

 Mandy Karnauskas, Michael Jepson Madeira Beach, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Waylon Mills A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Wayton Mills is a fourth-generation fishing guide and charter boat captain who has been leading fishing trips in the Boca Grande for 26 years. Initially focused on charter fishing, including both offshore and inshore fishing, Mills also engaged in stone crabbing until logistical challenges and distant buyers led him to discontinue it in 2017. 

Scope and Content Note

 Amanda Stoltz Boca Grande, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Van Hubbard A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Van Hubbard grew up in the Tampa Bay area. He used to net fish until the ban and got his captain’s license in 1976 and started chartering. He used to fish offshore but now he fishes inshore. His main target species are trout, redfish, king mackerel, kingfish, and Spanish mackerel. 

Scope and Content Note

 Amanda Stoltz Boca Grande, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Tommy Locke A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Tommy Locke was born in Webster, Florida. He has been fishing his entire life but started his career in Homosassa as a charter captain.

Scope and Content Note

 Amanda Stoltz Boca Grande, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Tom Marvel A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Tom Marvel is a grouper fisher who has lived in Naples since 1969. 

Scope and Content Note

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

Sylvester Dixon became a charter fishing guide after the 1990s net ban, previously he was a commercial fisherman. From a young age, he honed his skills and knowledge of fishing, eventually becoming a guide fisherman with over 20 years of experience. 

Scope and Content Note

 Amanda Stoltz Boca Grande, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Sean McQuade A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Sean McQuade is a seasoned charter boat captain and commercial fisherman with over 26 years of experience, who moved from Long Island to Florida in 1993. Sean divides his time between charter fishing, commercial fishing, and working as a firefighter. He has been actively engaged in fishing and diving and has witnessed changes in fish populations, water quality, and the occurrence of red tide events in the Fort Myers area.

Scope and Content Note

 Suzana Blake Fort Myers Beach, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Scott Childress, Jim Zubrick, and Mark Kramer A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Scott Childress was born and raised in Tampa and started fishing at age fifteen, and as an adult got into recreational, then commercial spearfishing out of New Port Richey and, on occasion, Steinhatchee. His inshore fishery is Cedar Key to Tarpon Springs.

Scope and Content Note

 Michael Jepson Steinhatchee, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Sandy Melvin A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Captain Sandy Melvin is a seasoned fishing guide with over 30 years of experience in the industry. He specializes in guiding fishing trips for snook, redfish, speckled trout, and tarpon in the backcountry and shallow waters of the Boca Grande area. Sandy also co-owns Gaspar Outfitters, a retail store with a focus on resort wear and outdoor clothing, alongside his wife.

Scope and Content Note

 Amanda Stoltz Boca Grande, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
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