Getting Skunked hunting in Florida is about to really STINK!!

[bob.oz]

As if the lack of gold finds haven't hit us Florida West Coast hunters hard enough this year, now we have Red Tide and beach renourishment to deal with

"Scientists say a huge bloom of red tide is coming to Florida's west coast and this could be the biggest bloom the state has seen in more than ten years. They say it has already killed thousands of fish out in the gulf and moving Southwest." The bloom was a whopping 90 miles long, 60 miles wide -- and growing. It sits just 20 miles off the coast of western Florida. Researchers monitoring the bloom say it was around 80 miles wide a few weeks ago.
Besides the red tide, many beaches in the area are getting beach renourishment, tons of sand are being dumped onto local beaches that were devastated by Tropical storm Debbie in 2012.


http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/red-tide-toxic-algae-onslaught-threatens-florida

 

[nagov]

Sure isn't getting any easier is it Bob????

Cliff

 

[togamac]

Any chance that the sand their "renourishing" with has anything in it?

 

[bob.oz]

You got that right Cliff...
Togamac......Maybe some fossils and sinkers. The sand is being brought up from around the passes and several hundred yards off shore in some of the other locations.

 

[GeorgeinSC]

Bob You are not the only one who has been skunked lately. I went to a local beach Monday. Spent 3 hours in the water for 1 clad quarter, 1 One oz lead sinker and 1 bottle cap. We have had extremely high tides with the Full Moon and everything is covered with sand. Managed a total of $1.30 in clad for four hours work.

One of our beaches got renourished during the winter/spring and they pumped sand from three miles off shore. They also pumped a lot of rock type material. I had good luck at that beach last winter but everything is now under two to three feet of sand. Except for a few fresh drops.

 

[Dancer]

I spend Jan/Feb hunting Panama City almost every day. I average one or two golds, maybe 4 pieces of silver, a year. Last year I broke $2 clad one time. It being off season and sanded in, well as you guys know it can be tough.

 

[bob.oz]

Renorishment in progress day and night on St.Pete Beach...Upham Bch.Pics

 

[OldBeechnut]

Wow I feel your pain, I hunt the OC area and they got the RN this past spring, thousands of rings were covered. The last Rn was in 1989, 25 years of treasure covered....Now all we have is the fresh drops....which is good for maybe a month...

 

[dewcon4414]

Im getting natural RN thats been killing the finds. Took a road trip to the Bradenton area..... and wow they added like 70 yards of beach. I told one guy..... we always wonder what was out there a bit over our head..... well with the RN we now know...... NOTHING.

Dew

 

[bob.oz]

The ever present Red Tide that has been lingering out in the Gulf of Mexico for the past couple months is now within 5 to 10 miles of the central west coast Florida beaches. Recent news reports have it coming ashore within a week or two. Dead fish were reported washing up on Honeymoon Island on Labor Day weekend.
We have also been plagued by numerous Jellyfish this past weekend along the beaches. Large ones up to 15," ( pictured with 12" coil) and small fist size ones with 2' too 3' stingers kept many visitors out of the water.
Link to Red Tide updates......... http://myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide/