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TAMPA, Fla. — Red tide and Hurricane Ian have stirred up the waters in the Tampa Bay area and some charter captains say it’s causing them to catch fewer fish.
Recreational fishing is a $13.8 billion dollar industry according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, so experts say the situation has a big impact on what’s happening, even as far away as Manatee County.
“You guys just wanting to go have some fun and catch fish, or what?" carter Capt. T.J. Stewart said as he prepared to take a group out.
Stewart says his love for fishing started when he was young.
“Yeah, I can’t imagine doing anything else,” he said, later adding that“I always wanted to be a charter captain."
He’s been on the waters near the Palmetto Boat Ramp for 23 years, and on this day he was taking a family out in search of snook, trout and hopefully redfish.
“I just love getting people out getting them fish,” he said.
The Bradenton native says he’s seen red tide develop in the area almost every year, but this year is the longest its ever been occurring in the area.
“With all the runoff and stuff like that, it’s fertilized the red tide and I think that’s why it’s so bad,” he said.
“I’m sure it’s killed a lot of the juvenile fish because they have a harder time getting away from it than the bigger fish," he added. "Its definitely moved a lot of things around."
He attributes the problem to Hurricane Ian, and said both factors are affecting his business.
“You know, we have definitely lost a little bit of business," Stewart said. "Everybody has with red tide, because you are fighting everyone not being able to be around it and stuff."
His charter group that day mainly caught snook at first, before Stewart headed to the next spot in search of snapper.
After several hours out on the water, with the trip nearing its end, Stewart said he’s just hoping that something can be done to prevent red tide in the future.
“Ultimately, figure out how to get rid of it altogether, you know, so we don’t have to worry about it," he said. "I can’t imagine how great the fishing would be or for everything, you know, not just for the fish but for the manatees for the wildlife the birds everything."

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