Stingray season is here! May through October is the time of year when two things happen that increase injuries caused by stingrays. Stingrays move into shallow waters in large numbers. More people are in the water during the warmer months. If you’re going into the Gulf of Mexico, the bay waters, or the Atlantic Ocean […]
Memorial Day Weekend 2013 brought with it strong, gusty southeasterly winds, so I was expecting to get some reports of jellyfish washing ashore around the state. I got reports from The Guisingers of Blue Buttons (Porpita porpita) coming ashore on Cocoa Beach. They were kind enough to send photos, which I’ve posted here. I’ve received […]
Is there a soldier in your life who could use some relaxing down time on the quietest, most relaxing island on Florida’s Gulf Coast? If so, you should check out this program founded by Tarpon Real Estate in Placida, Florida. It provides free weekends for a soldier and his or her family just to get […]
Today a 5 foot shark stranded itself in shallow water on Cocoa Beach. Lifeguard Zach Cooney saw the shark and was concerned that with all the people gathering around, it might feel cornered and start to bite people. So he did what no one else probably would have done: he grabbed it by the tail […]
Islands seem to hold extraordinary potential for small matters with simple solutions to become blown way out of proportion to what they merit. Does this sound familiar? Homeowner wants to know if a permit is needed to build a freestanding structure on his property. Building official advises verbally that no permit is required. Homeowner builds […]
Low Tide Toss. Does that sound like something you can do? I think even I could do this. It’s a simple game involving a sand “court,” a ball, and some holes in the beach sand. It doesn’t involve launching a heavy football or a speeding Frisbee, so you won’t be endangering people nearby. It’s simple […]
Northern Casey Key is not a very welcoming place to visitors. Signs make it clear that it is for residents only and that there is no public parking or beach access. From Blackburn Point Road, North Casey Key Road winds its way north toward Old Midnight Pass and Palmer Point Park. The road is about […]
These Velella jellyfish, also known as By-the-Wind Sailors are a real treat to find. These photos were submitted by Tiffany Hertzon and were taken in Highland Beach, Florida ( near Boca Raton ). Here is what Tiffany had to say about her find: Info: Found about 1pm April 14, 2013. High tide. Highland beach, FL. […]
The Red Tide that has been hanging around the southwest coast of Florida this winter has finally gone away, leaving clear waters behind and plenty of live fish to enjoy them. See all those green bubbles on the map above? Those indicate testing sites where the water tested clear of red tide. The white bubbles […]
When I first visited the Manasota Key back in the late 1990’s, it was such a spartan facility. A steep bluff led down to the beach where a handful of people enjoyed the isolated shoreline. Recently I heard that Sarasota had just completed a $1.5 million renovation of Manasota Beach, so I drove down to […]
