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

Sylvester Dixon provides insights into various aspects of fishing and the impact of red tide. He shares his personal background, from starting work on the water at a young age to becoming a charter fishing guide. Dixon discusses the decline of redfish populations and the shift in his focus to targeting snook and trout, which are now catch and release only. He expresses concern about the decline in trout populations and recounts a significant red tide event in the early 80s that devastated shrimp and horseshoe crabs. The conversation delves into the details of red tide events, with Dixon sharing his experiences fishing during these occurrences. He discusses the timing and duration of red tide and highlights specific areas where he could still fish during red tide. The interview further explores the recovery time after red tide events and touches on the impact on different species, including catfish, tarpon, and sharks. Dixon mentions the ongoing recovery efforts from the 2018 red tide event, highlighting the challenges faced and the potential role of phosphate mining and beach erosion in exacerbating red tide occurrences. He suggests monitoring rivers and creeks for red tide and emphasizes the need for studying the fate of nutrients and compounds in the water. The conversation concludes with a discussion about the challenges faced by charter captains and the importance of understanding red tide for their survival. 

Dixon is later joined by Mark Becton in this interview. They give insight on how the Red Tides evolved with time. They also gave detailed accounts of Red Tide events in 1998, 2004, and the most recent one.