October 17, 2011

Calhoun County: TPWD Law Enforcement observed over the weekend that Espiritu Santo Bay had a very marked set of red tide patches measuring 100 feet across and 1/4 mile long stretching in bands across the bay. Numerous dead fish were sighted along the ICWW near Charlie's Bait Camp, including some legal-sized redfish. The game warden noted that larger fish are comprising more of the fish kill.

Port Aransas/Mustang Island: Conditions have improved along Mustang Island. No fresh dead fish are washing in and aerosols have diminished greatly. K. brevis cells are still being found at the UTMSI pier at Port Aransas. Mustang Island State Park has removed the dead fish along a stretch of their beaches in the pedestrian day area and along the first half-mile of beach camping. A fisherman called to report that he had fished all around Aransas Bay over the weekend and saw no evidence of red tide from the southern tip of Mud Island near the old shrimp boat wreck up to Paul’s Mott reef along the north side of San Jose Island, none at Treasure Island, and none in South Bay. He did report aerosols but no discolored water at the Port Aransas jetties.

Padre Island National Seashore: Moderate to heavy aerosols were reported this morning. Decomposing fish remain on the beaches from last week’s fish kill. 

South Padre Island: After a few weeks’ reprieve from any red tide effects, concentrations of K. brevis rose sharply over the weekend. The highest concentrations were found from the beaches north of town, though moderate concentrations were found along the town beaches as well.
Fresh dead fish and aerosols began to be reported all along the island over the weekend, increasing in intensity toward the northern end. The fish kill includes mullet, menhaden, silversides, ladyfish, stargazers, hardheads, gafftops, scaled sardines, spotted seatrout, fat snook, spade fish, shrimp eels, needle fish, black drum, Atlantic bumper, and pig fish. One large tarpon measuring 6 feet in length washed ashore as well. Aerosols were also reported from Boca Chica.

October 14, 2011

DSHS reports visible bloom in Lavaca and Matagorda bays and they are still finding K. brevis in their Galveston Bay samples. Cells continue to be found in the intake waters for Sea Center Texas in Lake Jackson.

The Bastrop Bayou bloom and fish kill is suspected to be caused by the red tide, though water samples were inconclusive.

Biologists are assessing the Mustang and Padre Island fish kills today; results are pending. Aerosols in Port Aransas were lessened this morning due to the north wind. Moderate to high concentrations of K. brevis continue to be found in the Port Aransas area.

October 13, 2011

The Department of State Health Services monitored the Galveston area this week and found moderate concentrations at Bolivar Roads, but no cells at the San Luis Pass bridge, north Deer Island, the Galveston Causeway, the Galveston Yacht Basin, the south jetty, the east end of the seawall, or at Houston Ship Channel markers 25 (Texas City Dike), 35, 47 or 55.

DSHS also reports visible bloom in Matagorda and Espirtu Santo Bays. High cell concentrations were found at the Port O’Connor little jetties, Saluria Bayou and the Dolphin Point Marina.

Aerosols are still noticeable at Mustang Island State Park despite the rain and north wind. Fresh dead fish washed in overnight, including ladyfish, snapper, hardhead catfish, striped mullet, pinfish, spot and croaker.

Aerosols are noticeable in the TAMU-Corpus Christi area and along Padre Island National Seashore. A fish kill consisting of mostly skipjack (ladyfish) and mullet is occurring along Padre Island National Seashore south of the 25 mile marker. Additionally, there are large numbers of red snapper between the 34 and 37 mile markers.

October 12, 2011

Matagorda: On Monday, TPWD received a report of dead fish in the canals of the Bay Harbor subdivision. Water samples from the subdivision contained moderate concentrations of K. brevis, while high concentrations were found at Matagorda Harbor. No cells were found in two samples from East Matagorda Bay.

Port O’Connor/Seadrift: An angler notified TPWD of stressed fish off Dewberry Island this morning.  TPWD sampling crews worked the Matagorda Island area from 2 miles west of the old air force base to Light House Cove near Pass Cavallo. They saw no signs of red tide but report numerous healthy redfish and black drum. Dead mullet have been confirmed at Welder Flats Coastal Preserve. High concentrations of K. brevis were found in a water sample from Turnstake Island.

San Jose Island: Aerosols were heavy on the south end of San Jose Island yesterday, becoming less noticeable going north. The gulf beach was nearly free of dead fish, except for one stretch north of the first fence line where numerous dead mullet had washed ashore. Water sample analysis is pending.

Mustang Island/Port Aransas: No fresh dead fish have washed ashore at Mustang Island State Park. Aerosols were barely noticeable as of this morning and calm surf throughout the day has resulted in reduced aerosols. The water on the beach roads has dried up and the beaches have been reopened to camping. Moderate cell concentrations have been found at the UTMSI pier, UTMSI boat basin, La Quinta Channel, Island Mooring and Point of Mustang.

Padre Island: Moderate cell concentrations continue to be found at the Packery Channel boat launch.

South Padre Island: Water samples collected today from the Isla Blanca boat ramp, the north side of Brazos-Santiago Pass and the UT-Pan American Coastal Studies Lab all contained low concentrations of K. brevis. No fish kills or aerosols have been reported from the area.

October 11, 2011

Beach conditions update from Mustang Island State park: No evidence of new fish washing in. Aerosols light to non-existent. Wind is light and out of the north again which is calming seas and aerosols. Hopefully the seas continue to calm as we have astronomical high tides through Friday. Expect wind to slowly shift back to the east during the day which may make aerosols more prevalent. Beach access roads are open but visitors will have to drive through salt water to access the beach. We expect to close them again this afternoon as high tide approaches at approx 4:30 p.m. Beach camping is still on hold at this time until we can assess how high the tide will be this afternoon. This may continue over the next few days where we open beach access in the morning and close it for the evening. If the seas continue to calm it may be less of an issue and we can fully open the beach.

October 10, 2011

Aerosols have now been reported from the Corpus Christi and Port Aransas areas: the entire length of Padre Island National Seashore, Packery Channel, Newport Pass, Mustang Island State Park and Port Aransas. Water samples collected from the UT pier and marina both contained high concentrations of Karenia brevis. Biologists are investigating reports of lethargic fish in the Packery Channel area.

The South Padre Island area continues to have low concentrations of cells around the causeway, the San Martin boat ramp and the end of the Brownsville Ship Channel.

October 7, 2011

The Texas Department of State Health Services monitored the Galveston area for red tide yesterday. Very low concentrations were found at the south end of the causeway (West Bay) and inside the Galveston Yacht Basin. No cells were found at the Texas City Dike, the east end of the seawall, the 61st Street pier, the west end of Sportsman’s Road or at San Luis Pass. DSHS will collect samples again on Monday.

DSHS also collected samples from the Matagorda Bay and East Matagorda Bay areas yesterday and found high concentrations at the Colorado River jetty and in Matagorda Harbor. Moderate cell concentrations were found in the Caney Creek area and no cells at Palacios Harbor, Oyster Lake, Shell Island or the Mad Island Cut.

Dead menhaden are washing ashore today at Indianola, the Port O’Connor front beach and Boggy Bayou. Moderate cell concentrations were found at the Port O’Connor fishing pier, the TPWD Coastal Fisheries field station, and at the Indianola Fishing Marina. No cells were found at Magnolia Beach.

Dead fish are also washing up along the Padre Island National Seashore, from the Mansfield jetty to Big Shell. Biologists will conduct a fish kill assessment along PINS on Monday to determine the number and species of fish affected. Moderate concentrations of red tide cells were found at the north jetty, the 50 mile marker and the 39 mile marker. Low concentrations were found at the 28 mile marker. DSHS found no cells in their samples from Malaquite Beach, the Packery Channel boat launch or the UTMSI pier.

Two new fish kills have been reported from the lower coast. Dead mullet are reportedly washing up along the eastern shoreline of the lower Laguna Madre north of the Mansfield jetty. A second kill is occurring in the Laguna Vista area near Old Texaco Channel. Final results are still pending from TPWD’s investigation of the South Padre Island fish kill that included mostly ladyfish and mullet. Water samples showed low cell concentrations at the south Mansfield jetty and on the gulf beach 1 mile south of the jetty. No cells were found 2 miles south of the jetty.

October 6, 2011 afternoon

The red tide bloom is causing fish kills along the middle and lower Texas coast. Hundreds of dead gulf menhaden have washed ashore at the Port O’Connor front beach, mostly north of the fishing pier. On Friday, biologists will investigate a report of dead menhaden washing up between Boggy Bayou and Indianola Beach.

Padre Island National Seashore staff confirmed a fish kill occurring along the southern end of the park and the north Mansfield jetty. All species and sizes are affected, and the crews felt aerosol effects at least as far north as the 30 mile marker. Two dead green sea turtles were collected and will be handed over to the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network. They also collected water samples from the lower Laguna Madre at Yarborough Pass and Bird Island Basin; TPWD will analyze the samples tomorrow.

TPWD investigated the fish kill along South Padre Island that stretches for 4 miles south of the Mansfield jetty. The event is comprised of mostly striped mullet and ladyfish and little to no aerosols were felt by staff. Water samples were collected inside the Mansfield pass south jetty and from the gulf beach 2 miles south of the jetty.

October 6, 2011

Biologists are investigating two fish kills today: the first near the Mansfield jetties stretching south for approximately 2 miles along the gulf beach, and the second at the Port O'Connor front beach. DSHS confirmed moderate concentrations of K. brevis around the Port O'Connor area, including the little jetties and big jetties as well as the Dolphin Point Marina. Low concentrations have also been found at South Pass.

October 5, 2011

Upper Coast – DSHS has closed oyster leases in Conditionally Approved Area 1 of Galveston Bay, Central and East Approved Areas of Galveston Bay, and the Smith Point Approved Area of Galveston Bay due to the presence of Karenia brevis. Moderate cell concentrations were found at the Galveston Yacht Basin and low concentrations at the east end of the seawall, West Bay and inside San Luis Pass. Red tide was not present at Houston Ship Channel marker 25, the 61st Street Pier or Sportsman's Road.

Low concentrations of K. brevis have been found in the ICWW at the San Bernard boat ramp. No cells were found in Cedar Lakes or in East Matagorda Bay. Additional samples were taken from this area and analysis is ongoing.

Corpus Christi – Moderate concentrations of K. brevis have been found at Big Shell by staff of the Padre Island National Seashore. They also collected a sample from the surf at the north Mansfield jetty but no K. brevis was found. Another sampling trip is planned for later this week. DSHS staff collected samples and found no red tide at Island Mooring, Lydia Ann Channel at the Lighthouse,the UTMSI pier, the Gulf of Mexico just north of the jetties, Point of Mustang and La Quinta Channel.

South Padre Island - Disoriented birds have been found around the South Padre Island area. The birds have had difficulty flying and were exhibiting other neurological symptoms. City crews collected one dead bird, which was transported to Corpus Christi for toxin analysis. Results are pending. Water samples collected in the area show very low cell concentrations at the end of the Brownsville Ship Channel, Brazos-Santiago Pass, the Isla Blanca Park boat ramp, and the UT-Pan American Coastal Studies Lab. Moderate concentrations have been found at the west end of the Queen Isabella Causeway. No cells were found at the shrimp basin or the mouth of the Bahia Grande pilot channel. No new dead fish have been reported from the area this week.

October 3, 2011

A fisherman reported distressed menhaden in the Brownsville Ship Channel over the weekend, but when he visited the site a few hours later the menhaden had moved on and there were no dead fish on shore. On Monday, TPWD staff traveled from the San Martin boat ramp off Hwy 48 to the far west end of the Brownsville Ship Channel and then down to the Bahia Grande cut. No fresh dead fish were found and no aerosols were present. Birds were working a few different areas in the ship channel but no stressed fish were visible near the surface. Low cell counts were found in the ship channel.

TPWD is collecting samples from East Matagorda Bay and the ICWW this week.