MANASOTA KEY BEACH, Fla. — Hundreds of dead fish are washing up on Manasota Key Beach as medium red tide concentrations start to show up.
"It's been very clear lately but today it’s kind of a soupy color," said Sharron Bourget, Manasota Key Beach resident who comes to the beach every day.
Beachgoers on Friday complained of the dead fish washing up and coughing when close to the water.
"Today it's a little hard to breathe," said Mark Plecker who is visiting from Indiana.
Florida Fish and Wildlife's newest update shows high concentrations of red tide in the Collier, Lee, and Charlotte Counties and medium concentrations in the southern half of Sarasota County.
Scientists at MOTE Marine Aquarium say water currents and winds will keep red tide in this area for the next three to five days.
"This is the time of year that we see the beginnings of that as far as the higher concentrations showing up along the coast," said Vincent Lovco, a scientist at MOTE.
Right now people are hoping the current bloom stays small and gets shifted back out into the gulf.
Those wanting to check on beach conditions can go to visitbeaches.org.
To check on daily red tide reports from FWC click here.
You can also call 866-300-9399 at any time from anywhere in Florida to hear a recording about red tide conditions throughout the state.
