Isn't this nice? We're starting to get some waves and this happens. The beach looks horrible from what I've seen on the newscast. It's extends from Fernandina Beach down towards St. Augustine. Has anyone ever surfed during a red tide?
I'm not sure what that means Is that when the tide comes up really high, and almost gets over the dunes? Cause i surfed during that once, and it was sweet, the waves were breaking far outside. So yeah It's a shame the big swell that's building on monday/tuesday is going to be choppy beyond belief. Because Cocoa beach never gets to 1-3ft overhead. It will probably make the bottom horrible.... Oh well
Red Tide is NASTY stuff. We get it on the Gulf almost every year. Suprisingly not this year, yet. Here is Wickpedias info on it..... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_tide. Bad stuff, it kills the oxygen in the water suffocating marine life. Dead fish wash up on the beach from it, and it will make your eyes burn, and throat feel raw from being in it. For us Gulf Coasters, we have dealt with it for the past 3 Summers durring every swell, and a little into winter till the water gets cold enough to kill the Algai.Never heard of it on the East Caost though. but with all the dumping of Poo from the Gambling Ships, I don't doubt it showed up.
So, judging from the responses, I guess no one has ever ventured out during one, except maybe Russ-D. Yeah, the newspeople were reporting at the beach and said their eyes and throat were burning just being out there. I have an hour drive to the water in case you were wondering why I don't just head out myself.
I've gone out in red tides a few times on the east coast. All you'll notice is a funky smell, minor throat irritation, and maybe a little dry coughing, but no long term effects.