Incoming Tide

     We decided last night to treat ourselves to dinner out, with the emphasis on the out portion of that statement. The destination was Jetty Jack’s, a hot dog stand on the – you guessed it – jetty. We jumped in the car at 5:00 in order to beat the sunset viewers so we could snag a bench. I had visions of cold beer and watching abundant pelicans and dolphins playing there in the inlet from the Gulf of Mexico.

      We pulled into the parking lot, encouraged by the availability of parking spots. Maybe after we ate, we could sit in the car on the Gulf side and watch the waves crash against the rocks.    

Except.

We walked up and finally noticed the shuttered take-out window, and then saw the sign apologizing for being closed due to red tide. On our last trip to the beach we stayed, but often the tell-tale catch in the throat, causing us to cough a little. Unlike some places, here red tide's mostly just an annoyance.

Here’s the skinny on this phenomenon kicked up this year to higher levels thanks to our old friend Hurricane Ian:

Red tides have been documented along Florida's gulf coast since the 1840’s.

• The Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis, produces a toxin that may kill marine animals and affect humans.
• A red tide bloom is a higher-than-normal concentration of a microscopic alga (plant-like organisms).

It is important to realize that many people still enjoy the beaches during red tides. Respiratory irritation and dead fish are not always present. People may experience respiratory irritation (coughing, sneezing, and tearing) when the red tide organism is present along a coast and winds blow its aerosol onshore.

• People with severe or chronic respiratory conditions are advised to avoid red tide areas.