NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — The lingering red tide this winter may be improving, which is hopeful news for stone crab fishermen on the Suncoast.
The red tide has added to the slow start of stone crab season. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is reporting fish kills off Collier County continued in December but the red tide algae bloom is staying farther north off Pinellas and Sarasota counties.
Hurricane Matthew delayed fishermen from setting thousands of traps. When they were finally able to get them out, they had to deal with murky waters and dead fish.
