Charley Howell makes a living on the waters of Tampa Bay taking guided fishing tours for in shore fishing trips.
Lately people from across the country and even the local area have been canceling trips.
“I just had a phone call earlier today where a gentleman called and asked about the red tide,” said Howell.
Photos and video shown on social media display scores of dead fish washing up on Florida beaches.
The problem of red tide is real in some area, but not in the waters of Tampa Bay where Howell takes his guided fishing trips.
“Unfortunately, that’s the problem with social media. Everybody is an expert and doom and gloom sells things, so you see a bunch of dead fish and it gets people outraged and unfortunately this year, it’s a political thing so that hypes it up even more,” said Howell.
Howell is not alone in his loss of business, Travis Yaeckel is also a full time fishing guide who specializes in guided, in shore fishing trips.
“Thankfully, we’re blessed in Tampa Bay to not see any red tide right now,” said Yaeckel.
That hasn’t stopped the calls and the cancellations.
“We’re getting calls from the midwest, from up north. This issue that we’ve had in Florida, Southwest Florida particularly, has gained national headlines,” said Yaeckel.
The experienced captain said he does the best he can to paint a realistic picture of fishing conditions at all times for potential customers.
Right now Yaeckel says the fishing in Tampa Bay is perfectly aligned with the conditions he would expect at this time of year and he says red tide is not a factor where he is fishing.
“We are free and clear. I’ve been fishing from the furthest parts north in the bay to the furthest parts south in the bay down toward Anna Maria Island, fortunately in the areas that I’ve been, I haven’t seen any signs of red tide, any signs of dead fish or anything of that nature,” said Yaeckel.
He is hoping to spread the word so that people continue to come to Florida and enjoy the sport fishing the state has to offer.
