Texas -

October 30, 2009

Cell counts from late yesterday afternoon showed that levels of Karenia brevis were very high along South Padre Island beach access roads 5 and 6, Brigepoint, Brazos Pass along the north side and at the Isla Blanca boat ramp. Low to moderate levels of cells was reported along the South Bay and at the west end of the Q.I.M. Causeway. Cell counts taken late yesterday afternoon from Access Road 2A and at Bob Hall Pier on Padre Island were very high.

As of today no fresh dead fish have washed onto the shore along Mustang Island or the portion of North Padre Island from PINS boarder north to Packery Channel. Reports from Port Aransas suggest the effects of the aerosols are decreasing.

The Coast Guard overflight for this Saturday has been cancelled and the schedule for Sunday and Monday remain unsure.

Red Tide Update 10/29/09

Reports from Corpus Christi and Aransas Bay are suggesting that no Red Tide is evident in those bays. Water samples from Aransas Bay show no cell counts of Karenia brevis.

Mustang Island State Park reports that no dead fish have washed up onto the beach today. The surf is running high and aerosols are very prevalent in the air and causing a great deal of irritation.

Along Padre Island National Seashore there is a continuous line of red foam and the aerosols level is quite high. High winds and high tides made surveying the beach for new dead fish difficult but no fresh-dead fish were seen along Access Road 3, Bob Hall Pier, or North Beach Access Road at PINS.

Karenia brevis cells continue to be observed at Port A pier and cell counts are now in the moderate to high range.

October 28, 2009

TPWD has received a number of reports of successful fishing in the bays. The red tide has been affecting the gulf beaches, but for the most part has stayed out of the bays. Reports from the lower Laguna Madre indicate that fishing success remains consistent and that flounder and trout continue to be caught from the area. TPWD biologists observed people catching fish yesterday at Packery Channel and no aerosol effects.

TPWD photographer Chase Fountain rode along on yesterday’s overflight, capturing some impressive images of the bloom.

The Texas Department of State Health Services collected water samples from 18 sites around the Aransas Bay area yesterday, including the Port Aransas jetties, Lydia Ann Channel, Mud Island, the Rockport and Fulton harbors, Long Reef, Copano Bay, and the Port Aransas marina. All tested negative for red tide with the exception of the UT pier at the Port Aransas jetties, where low concentrations of cells were found.

Mustang Island State Park reports no dead fish washed up on their beaches today, but the strong southeasterly wind is causing rough surf and slight aerosols.

Low to moderate aerosols and varying concentrations of red tide cells continue to be found today around the South Padre Island area. Dead fish, mostly hardhead catfish, were washing ashore on the town’s beaches this morning. Dead fish were also seen floating in Brazos-Santiago Pass.

October 27, 2009 – additional information

The coastal overflight has been completed and found one continuous stretch of red tide bloom extending from southern Mustang Island into Mexico. The bloom is approximately one-half to one mile offshore. Fish kills were seen inside Mansfield Channel and Brazos-Santiago Pass with the dead fish extending out to approximately one mile offshore. It looks as if the fish are being pushed onto the beaches south of the passes.

Flying over the bays, biologists did find two areas of suspected bloom, at the mouth of the Corpus Christi Inner Harbor and in the Vinson Slough area of Aransas Bay.

Red tide cell concentrations were high today around the South Padre Island area.

Fishermen report success in the lower Laguna Madre near the mouth of the Arroyo Colorado.

October 27, 2009

The cool front brought some rain to the Corpus Christi area yesterday afternoon and evening. No fresh dead fish are on the beaches of Mustang Island State Park today and no aerosols are being reported.

After repeated weather delays, the coastal overflight is occurring today. On the first leg of the trip the plane flew from Corpus Christi to Matagorda Island. No signs of any bloom were seen off Matagorda Island but a suspicious patch was noted near Cedar Bayou. There is a patch of bloom occurring nearshore along the southern portion of San Jose Island near the jetty. No indications of offshore blooms were found in the area. The plane continued south for the second leg of the overflight and information for this portion will be posted after the flight is completed.

The town of South Padre Island reported no fresh dead fish along the beaches this morning.

Biologists visited Boca Chica today and found no fresh dead fish washing ashore; dead fish from last week’s fish kill are still on the beaches. No aerosol effects and no discolored water were found, though several birds were seen feeding offshore.

October 26, 2009

The coast is experiencing another cool front bringing winds and rain with it. Before the front, people were experiencing aerosols in Corpus Christi, South Padre Island, and Port Isabel. Dead fish continue to wash ashore along South Padre Island, mostly small ladyfish and hardheads. Before the front came through, cell counts were highest near Isla Blanca Park and generally dropped further north along the island.

Biologists will survey Boca Chica tomorrow.

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