PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. -- It's official. The red tide bloom has reached south Pinellas County.

Florida Fish and Wildlife said Wednesday that two samples collected showed background-to-low concentrations of the red tide organism.

While the low level of algae is not currently affecting anglers in the area, they are still worried of the possibilities.

"Just being around the water all my life, I've seen red tide in here before, but from what I've seen, this is a lot worse than it normally is," said fisherman Amos Phillips.

When Phillips isn't fishing he is working at the bait shop at the end of the Skyway fishing pier. 

Phillips says that fewer people have been out lately, since the red tide threat, and he fears things will get worse.

"Not only is it gonna be in here, but my main concern is how long it's gonna be here. I mean it could be here a year. And even if it does go out, it's gonna take a long time for the fish to replenish," said Phillips. "And my main concern is how long it's gonna to take recover from this."

Florida Fish and Wildlife is continuing to collect samples from the coast, with results available here.

For more information on red tide from the FWC, click here.