red tide affecting fishing in Sarasota

Fishing was slow this week with morning thunderstorms cancelling most of my trips. Friday was nice, though hot, but red tide shut down most of Sarasota Bay. There is an area of cleaner water to the south, and bottom fishing produced some snapper. There are a few fish on the bares between Stickney Point and Blackburn Point, but it has been inconsistent. The heat (water temperature was in the upper 80's) and lack of wind did not help. Hopefully, the red tide will clear out and the spots near the passes will become productive again.