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Red tide still impacting southern Pinellas County beaches

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PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Pinellas County officials had a report of high fish kill along its shores on Thursday morning. The county was able to clean it up quickly, but red tide was still very apparent in that area on Thursday, though the northern coast of Pinellas County was a different story.

Fisherman Kirk Medvedeff who launches his boat nearly five days a week in Clearwater says the red tide isn't in his area.

"Between Clearwater and Anclote, our usual fishing grounds, we’re seeing no effect at all," said  Medvedeff

Pinellas County officials say beaches north of Belleair Beach are beautiful. But in southern Pinellas County beaches between Indian Shores and Pass-A-Grille, the red tide is making a big impact.

"I’m disappointed because I expected the water to be clear and I can still smell some of the fish," said Izabela Araujo who is visiting from Los Angeles. 

There was no significant odor from the red tide in Pass-A-Grille Beach on Thursday but some did notice a little coughing from the algae bloom. 

Aerial video shows that the algae bloom is hanging out right off the beaches of southern Pinellas County and county officials say the wind plays a huge role in where the red tide goes.