Captain Eric Ciocher: Space Coast Lagoons in Peril as Rising Water Temperatures Trigger Fish Kill

Captain Eric Ciocher: devastating fish kill recently occurred between the 520 and Pineda Causeways

Captain Eric Ciocher: “I’ve never seen water temperatures currently this high in our lagoons.”

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – I have been a professional Captain and fishing guide on the Space Coast for many decades, and I’ve never seen water temperatures currently this high in our lagoons.

A devastating fish kill recently occurred between the 520 and Pineda Causeways, affecting all species, including Redfish.

The cause? Likely a toxic combination of factors: storm runoff, low oxygen levels, and sustained high water temperatures.

For over a month now, lagoon temperatures have hovered above 90 degrees. That kind of prolonged heat takes a toll, not just on the fish, but on the entire delicate ecosystem here in our backyard.

On my last trip, north of Sebastian Inlet, my son and I came across a struggling sea turtle. We assisted until rescue personnel arrived and transported it to the Brevard Zoo for treatment.

Sadly, it didn’t survive. Rescue staff believed that part of the cause was elevated water temperatures and possible waterborne pathogens.

What’s the solution? Honestly, there isn’t one easy fix. But it’s clear that we must reduce pollution at every level—minimizing algae blooms, pesticides, stormwater runoff, and sewage spills—if we want the lagoons to survive and thrive for future generations to experience.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

WATCH: A 2021 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame inductee in the Sports Journalist category, Capt. Eric Ciocher’s love of fishing was a natural lead-in for his career as a multimedia Outdoors journalist. He is also an accomplished, published outdoor writer for national and local fishing industry publications. Ciocher is an established professional fishing guide on Florida’s Space Coast and has numerous tournament wins in the saltwater arena.

A 2021 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame inductee in the Sports Journalist category, Capt. Eric Ciocher’s love of fishing was a natural lead-in for his career as a multimedia Outdoors journalist. He is also an accomplished, published outdoor writer for national and local fishing industry publications. Ciocher is an established professional fishing guide on Florida’s Space Coast and has numerous tournament wins in the saltwater arena.

Several times a week, someone asks the fisherman extraordinaire to name his favorite fish, and Ciocher always has the identical, succinct response: “The next one.” His hesitancy to name a particular favorite is understandable, for all kinds of fish have been very, very good to the Captain, who has the enviable career of fishing around the world for a living. With the help of Ciocher and his many fishing-savvy guests, Brevard anglers get the scoop on the hottest locations for the best catch.

It’s hard for Ciocher to imagine a time when he did not fish. “I think I was three when I started,” he said.

His first 28 years were spent in New Jersey until he headed to the Space Coast and its more abundant outdoor opportunities and better fishing weather. After a stint as a boat captain and professional fishing guide, with numerous tournament wins in the saltwater arena, in 2000, Ciocher began a career writing about the outdoors for local and national publications. He was eventually asked to co-host a televised fishing show, which led to his current adrenaline-packed endeavor as an independent producer for the World Fishing Network.

“I’m a strong advocate for clean waterways on a global scale,” he said. “Catching the next one means I’m alive and well. I enjoy every moment of fishing as if it were my last.”

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