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Red Tide Hits Vanderbilt Beach: What You Need to Know

Author Budman

Heads up! There’s a red tide near Vanderbilt Beach, Collier County, and it’s causing some serious health concerns. On December 16, 2024, officials confirmed the presence of this harmful algae bloom in the waters. The Florida Department of Health (DOH) is advising everyone to proceed with caution, especially if you’re out near the beach.

If you’re planning to visit the area, here are a few things you should keep in mind. First off, stay out of the water and don’t swim or wade in it. Red tide can irritate your skin, cause rashes, and make your eyes burn. If you’ve been in contact with it, wash up with soap and fresh water right away, especially if your skin tends to react.

If you’ve got a history of respiratory issues, you might want to steer clear of this spot entirely. The toxins in red tide can make it tough to breathe, and it can be harmful even just by inhaling the air.

Red Tide In Florida's Tampa Bay Leaves Dead Fish Along Coastline. Meanwhile, Red tide has been detected near Vanderbilt Beach in Collier County, prompting health warnings and safety precautions for residents, visitors, and animals.
(Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

Red Tide Precautions:

For those living near the beach, you should keep your windows closed and run the AC. Make sure the filter is clean. Nobody wants to breathe in any extra toxins.

Also, don’t go eating any shellfish or picking up dead fish from the area. If you’re a fan of fishing, it’s safe to eat finfish, as long as you fillet it and discard the guts. And please, don’t let your pets get in the water, red tide can cause serious issues for them too.

So what exactly is red tide? It’s a bloom of algae that’s triggered by high levels of a tiny organism called Karenia brevis. When it blooms, the water can turn a reddish-brown color, and the algae release neurotoxins that can affect humans, animals, and marine life. The toxins can even make their way into the air when the wind kicks up.

Fish Kills: Dead, diseased, or abnormally behaving fish or wildlife should be reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission online or at 800-636-0511.

To hear a recording about red tide conditions throughout the state, call the toll-free hotline at
866-300-9399. If you want updates on the situation or need more info, check out Protecting Florida Together, or call the DOH at 239-252-8200. Stay safe out there.

Meet Budman, dynamic host of Marconi Award winning radio station WXKB's WiLD Bunch Morning Show, on B1039. Budman likes to write about funny news, a good Florida man story, stupid criminals or anything involving a superhero. Budman, a comic book and pop culture enthusiast, even named his daughter Kara Zor-El, after Supergirl. His only child is his true passion beyond the mic. Being a dad is his favorite role. Budman, a true family man, balances his love for radio with quality time spent with loved ones and his trusty dogs.

Underrated Florida Beaches That Are Filled with Beauty

Florida is known for its beautiful beaches and resorts. After all, Florida is the Sunshine State. But, if you’re looking for some more underrated, and less busy, Florida beaches, then you also have some options. The major beaches are often filled with tourists, so finding some of the more underrated Florida beaches may be just what you need for a quiet getaway.

Most Underrated Florida Beaches to Visit

Before we get to the most underrated Florida beaches to visit, let’s talk about the amazing water areas that Florida has to offer. Florida is one of the boating and fishing capitals of the world. As VisitFlorida.com points out, the state has more than 7,700 lakes, 11,000 miles of rivers, 2,276 miles of tidal shoreline and has been home to more than 900 world fishing records. That tops any other state or even country. How wild is to to think that Florida has created more fishing records than even any other country? It shows just how rich the state is when it comes to our water.

Florida also has more than 700 freshwater springs, and 27 are classified as first-magnitude springs, which is more than any other state. A few other special things about Florida is that John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park on Key Largo was America’s very first underwater state park. Also, the fishing village of Cedar Key is known for having the best clam chowder in America. So, if you have a craving for clam chowder, that’s the place to go.

A separate article from VisitFlorida.com notes that Florida beaches are known for being very clear, but “it varies from week to week, and even from day to day depending on the amount of sunlight, the temperature, the amount of rainfall, the wind speed and direction, water currents and surf.” They add that Florida has some very clear and beautiful beaches on the Gulf of Mexico and on the Atlantic Ocean. For clear water ost days, try “northwest Florida beaches in and around Panama City Beach, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, and Pensacola; southwest Florida beaches on Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key and Siesta Key.”

I love that fact that you can enjoy Florida beaches any time of the year. I mean, contrary to what people outside of the state think, it can get cold here in the winter. But, it’s rarely too cold to sit on the beach with a sweatshirt on and watch the sunset. Read on for underrated Florida beaches to get on your radar.

  • Fort Myers Beach

    Fort Myers Beach still has a good amount of damage from the hurricane, but Margaritaville is open, so you’ll find plenty to do there. Situated on Estero Island, Fort Myers Beach is one of the state’s most underrated beaches. At Fort Myers Beach, you’ll find beautiful, white-sand beaches and gorgeous sunsets.

    Fort Myers beach.

    Getty Images / benkrut

  • Sarasota

    Make sure to visit Siesta Key here, as well as Sarasota Gay Beach and Crescent Beach. Just south of Tampa Bay, Sarasota is a lovely beach town that is especially popular during the holidays. You’ll find lots of local shopping opportunities here.

    Sarasota

    Getty Images / Sean Pavone

  • St. George Island State Park

    St. George Island State Park is located on a barrier island fronting the legendary Apalachicola Bay. It’s a great place to gaze at the stars. Note that starting March 1, 2025, the campground at Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park will be closed for an expansion project.

    St. George Island State Park

    Getty Images / Liene-Helmig

  • Santa Rosa Beach

    If you head to Santa Rosa Beach and want to find some really special, and secret, beaches, try Blue Mountain Beach and Grayton Beach State Park. This beach town is less crowded than most, which makes it a low-key getaway.

    Santa Rosa Beach

    Getty Images / krblokhin

  • Pensacola Beach

    Pensacola Beach is located on a 40-mile barrier island, Pensacola Beach, and has beautiful, translucent waters. It’s a really small town, so it’s much less crowded than other beaches. It’s a hidden gem.

    Pensacola Beach

    Getty Images / Ben Oldaker

  • Discover Your Own New Favorite

    If you don’t want to go too far, do some digging and visit one of the closest beaches to you, that you haven’t visited yet. This is one of my favorite things to do. Maybe you’ll find a new favorite beach super close to home.

    Discover Your Own New Favorite

    Getty Images / Sergey Dementyev

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