We%26#39;re going to Loggerhead Cay on last week of October. I never been there before and I hope to get general information about conditions of the beach at that time of the year. What the water temperature, how big waves usually are, how the sea floor looks like - sand, stones, ect... And the most imporrtant - are red tides on present on that beach? And if it is, how bad is there?
Loggerhead Cay beach and red tide
At this time the red tide is not present, there is patchy red drift algae - a seaweedy type thing that floats at the water%26#39;s edge and is often called %26#39;The Nanny%26#39;. It is not as bad as it was early this summer when it really piled up on the beachs all along the shore from Captiva to Naples. There is residual issues with fish kills, but if you look at the other threads, including the Red Tide update, you%26#39;ll see problems are mostly spotty, as they have been most of the summer. The last report indicated the red tide MAY turn south again, but no one can predict what, if anything, will happen.
The seafloor is sand with shells in it. Many folks wear beachshoes because of all the shells on the beach and at the surf edge. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don%26#39;t, but when I don%26#39;t, I have cut myself a few times. Baby stingrays burrow in the sand so it%26#39;s wise to shuffle you feet to scare them away - avoiding their barbed tails. [Do not panic - these are little stingrays, not the giant ones they have in Australia.] Waves vary with the wind and moon. Usually the Gulf is fairly calm, but storms and winds can kick it up. Much quieter than the Atlantic. Water temps will be around 80F.
Loggerhead Cay beach and red tide
Tourmaline, thank you for the information!
Is sea swimmable when red algea present? How people obtain information if water is good on a beach (flags, signs, announsments)? Or Internet - the best sourse?
What beach adjoing by Loggerhead Cay (I mean the name of the local beach). Thank you!
Loggerhead is on Sanibel%26#39;s East End, so if you want to see what beach conditions are like, ask about the Lighthouse Beach area as that would be the closest %26#39;named%26#39; beach.
Sanibel%26#39;s beach is really just one long unbroken stretch many miles long. Some sections have names as they are where there%26#39;s public parking and access. The eastern most beach is Lighthouse Beach at the very end of East Gulf Dr. Next is Gulfside City Park, or Algier%26#39;s Beach. Just a short way down West Gulf is Tarpon Beach. Tarpon Beach is in front of Pointe Santo, Tarpon Beach, and Pine Cove on West Gulf where Tarpon Bay Rd ends. You can walk from Algier%26#39;s to Tarpon in about 20 minutes or slightly less. The next access isn%26#39;t till you%26#39;re miles up San-Cap Rd at Bowman%26#39;s Beach. This is in an area with little development. The next public access isn%26#39;t until you reach Blind Pass Bridge where Sanibel and Captiva meet. There are two small lots, one on the Sanibel side with mostly resident reserved spaces and Turner%26#39;s Beach on the Captiva side. Both lots have very limited parking and this is a PRIME sunset location. There is one other tiny lot [no facilities] at the very end of Captiva Drive where you can park and access the beach near South Seas Beach.
In general, folks talk about the beach either the public access point name or locations in front of condo complexes. Beyond Tarpon Bay Rd the number of condos drop off sharply and eventually West Gulf is residential at the far end - past Rabbit Rd, the last thru street up to San-Cap Rd. There is deeded beach access for owners in various subdivisions, but they are NOT public access. Lots of year round residents live on or near West Gulf, one of the longest streets that runs along the Gulf. When folks say %26#39;West Gulf%26#39; it%26#39;s hard to say WHERE on West Gulf unless they add a complex ot motel name.
As for the red drift algae - it%26#39;s ugly, and usually a narrow strip of what appears to be floating reddish seaweed on the top of the water. Seasoned Sanibel visitors just wade thru and swim further out as the water stays very shallow. Now be warned - the algae line can be 10-15 FEET wide during a bad outbreak. It got like that earlier this year, but it%26#39;s back to being just an annoyance now. When it piles up and dies, it smells BAD.
Red TIDE is nasty and I wouldn%26#39;t get in the water myself if was other than Present or Very Low. They don%26#39;t post on beaches, but even a moderate red tide affects breathing and makes eyes itchy and irritated. It can also smell - sometimes really bad. It causes skin irritation and rashes. Ask the locals, check on the internet [I post info when it%26#39;s released on Fridays is any areas are a problem] and remember the water is sometimes %26#39;tea colored%26#39;, but clear, from tannins - which are harmless. If your eyes itch or you%26#39;re coughing, it is a good indication red tide is around. It can bloom VERY suddenly between weekly water samples.
As for other issues, like e.coli - which often closes NJ beaches - well that happened for a few days and that IS posted by the Lee County Board of Health and info can be found at www.mysanibel.com
You can always stop by the Visitor%26#39;s Center right where the causeway enters Sanibel and ask there, or call the Red Tide Status Line at: (866) 300-9399 (toll-free inside Florida only); or (727) 552-2448 (outside Florida).
Tourmaline! I really appreciate your information about all this important staff. But I really worry now that all this natural things can ruine our long waited vacation. I will hope only for good luck and will let your know how we made it.
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