Red Tide Status

There have been some isolated cases of red tide in our local waters. It is important to note that red tide blooms appear almost every year, though the severity can vary. In order to keep our visitors informed, we encourage you to please check current red tide status updates from Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources, or see additional red tide resources below.

Additional Resources
See the latest FWC Current Red Tide Status
View the FWC Red Tide Sample Map
Check out the GCOOS Respiratory Forecast

To see detailed, updated information on Bradenton Area beaches, visit Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium’s Beach Conditions Reporting System and select Coquina Beach, Longboat Key, or Manatee Beach on the map.

To view our local beaches in real time, check out web cams below:

Cedar Cove Resort, Holmes Beach
Rod & Reel Pier, Anna Maria
Anna Maria Oyster Bar Pier, Bradenton Beach
Anna Maria Beach Resort, Holmes Beach

OR

Visit our beach cams page for live updates.

Beach Safety

Stay in the know before you go to our beautiful area beaches, and understand what our beach warning flags denote about water conditions:

• Two Red Flags: Water Closed to Public One Red Flag: High Hazard, High Surf and / or Strong Currents Yellow Flag: Medium Hazard, Moderate Surf and / or Currents Green Flag: Low Hazard, Calm Conditions, Exercise Caution Purple Flag: Dangerous Marine Life
• Two Red Flags: Water Closed to Public One Red Flag: High Hazard, High Surf and / or Strong Currents Yellow Flag: Medium Hazard, Moderate Surf and / or Currents Green Flag: Low Hazard, Calm Conditions, Exercise Caution Purple Flag: Dangerous Marine Life
• Two Red Flags: Water Closed to Public One Red Flag: High Hazard, High Surf and / or Strong Currents Yellow Flag: Medium Hazard, Moderate Surf and / or Currents Green Flag: Low Hazard, Calm Conditions, Exercise Caution Purple Flag: Dangerous Marine Life
• Two Red Flags: Water Closed to Public One Red Flag: High Hazard, High Surf and / or Strong Currents Yellow Flag: Medium Hazard, Moderate Surf and / or Currents Green Flag: Low Hazard, Calm Conditions, Exercise Caution Purple Flag: Dangerous Marine Life
• Two Red Flags: Water Closed to Public One Red Flag: High Hazard, High Surf and / or Strong Currents Yellow Flag: Medium Hazard, Moderate Surf and / or Currents Green Flag: Low Hazard, Calm Conditions, Exercise Caution Purple Flag: Dangerous Marine Life

Extreme Weather & Storm Circumstances

Lifeguards on our area beaches are trained to watch for lightning and will close the beach when it is determined that it is a threat. You will hear a whistle blast and see a double red flag on the lifeguard tower letting you know it is time to stay out of the water and seek shelter.

For the latest information on any given case of extreme weather, visit the Bradenton Area Emergency Planning page for the latest updates on any current emergency situation.

Play beyond the beach!

From island to mainland, there’s always something new and exciting to discover: artistic communities and cultural events, family fun, adrenaline-packed adventure, historic outposts, or simply another beautiful sugar-white sand beach to sink your toes into.

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