Piney Point Update - 05/25/2021

[Mackerelman]

Here is the Latest Update at Piney Point.
www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2021/05/25/usf-finds-no-widespread-effects-from-piney-point-spill-

[shuttlecommander]

Thanks mackerel man

[fishfinderbill]

OK The spill hasn't done any major damage. So why is there very few fish being caught at either pier. I was at NSP today and no take home fish were caught.

[saltybass]

May 25, 2021 20:38:45 GMT -5 fishfinderbill said:

OK The spill hasn't done any major damage. So why is there very few fish being caught at either pier. I was at NSP today and no take home fish were caught.

Is this really a new thing?
This seems like normal fishing to me.
Just because 100 people soaking frozen squid straight down didn't catch anything worthwhile doesn't mean the fish aren't there.
A quick look at the tides and there were only 2-3 hours during the daytime that I would have fished. It would have been tough because it was during the hottest part of the day. A limit of 10-12" snapper with maybe 2 pushing 14", is what I would have expected to catch while weeding through a lot of grunts/pins/spots.

[Mackerelman]

Look; this year so far it has been very warm, maybe hot to some but if You sit back & think about it, it has not rained yet.
I remember in years past at the beginning of summer like now when it didn't rain & the bait didn't even come around.
We have had the Piney Point Situation this year and to My Knowledge that has never happened.
We have had the Red Tide for the last couple of Years destroying Florida's Fishing.
We had Hurricane Irma in 2017 that destroyed the Fish Egg Beds.
And now, No Rain. Now We have Rain in the Forecast for the Weekend & We are entering Hurricane Season.
Things will change. We just have to be patient at this time. The Fish will return.
Grouper Season is upon Us & Spotted Trout & Redfish will also be legal all at the same time on June 1st. And Snook in the fall.
Until then do some Fishing out in the Gulf if You can.
If there is Bait around the Piers, the Fish will make a comeback.
Let's all hope for some rain.

[Mackerelman]

I think that part of this Red Tide Report is partially due to the Piney Point Disaster.
Notice where it is generated from.

Here is the Red Tide Report for Our Area Today.

In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at very low concentrations in Pinellas County (in one sample), background to low concentrations in Hillsborough County (in five samples), background to medium concentrations in Manatee County (in 15 samples).

ocgweb.marine.usf.edu/tbm/hab/

[carlf]

I agree, it appears there is a correlation to the PP discharge point and where the red tide is forming.
The lack of measurable rain in the last 2-3 months resulting in for freshwater inflows is not helping matters.

[Mackerelman]

For Good News, We have the Possibility of Rain Ahead within the next week.

www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/weather/7-day-forecast

[coach]

Salty Bass: Please explain about only fish a couple of hours during the tides