RUSKIN, Fla. -- The thought of red tide is hurting businesses along Tampa Bay.

• Red tide fears are hurting businesses in Tampa Bay area
• Businesses had cancellations over Labor Day weekend

Although no red tide has turned up in Ruskin, some business owners blamed the perception of dead fish for their loss of business over Labor Day weekend. 

"It's not here," said Charter Captain Jason Thompson. "It's not in the Bay."

Charter captains said for the last month, they've received cancellations and calls from customers who are worried about red tide creeping into Tampa Bay.

"People have called to cancel," said Charter Captain Lori Deaton of Ladyfish Charters. "They've called to ask for their deposit back going all the way up to October into November. They fear it's going to destroy all the fishing."

"People are assuming it's up in the rivers, up in the Bay and it is not," said Tammy Saxon, owner of Pirate's Pointe Fishing Resort. 

Saxon said the misconception has been devastating to her business. She said she hasn't received an online reservation for her resort in more than a month. The owner is trying to cut expenses and struggling to pay the bills.

"I know I'm not the only one in this situation that can't pay your bills," Saxon said. "The next thing it'll affect your creditors."

With thousands of dollars in losses adding up by the day, business owners said it really has become a state of emergency for them. They hope to get the word out that there's no red tide in the little Manatee River or around Tampa Bay.