Reef Ball teams monitored the M-4 Reef Balls offshore of Sarasota which are being affected by a 3 month long Red Tide event. Fouling community growth on the Reef Balls has been reduced by 20% (whereas the concrete culverts on the same site lost 65% of their growth...probably attributed to better
water circulation within Reef Balls). About 20% of the hard corals are experiencing some bleaching. Pelagic bait is abundant, however resident bait, such as tomtates is almost non-existent even though they are normally abundant. Gag grouper populations seemed normal, most appeared to have very fully bellies which is why the fishing might be a bit slower (Reported fishing effort was 1 legal grouper per hour fished with 2 lines) as was reported by fishermen on the site. Visibility was about 10-15 feet, temperature was 72 degrees F. Dead fish were observed on the bottom, mostly in the 2-4 inch size category at a rate of 1-2 every 100 square feet. We observed much higher rates of dead fish on the surface in Sarasota Bay on the way out...in some areas 10-15 fish every 100 square feet.
