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PINELLAS COUNTY (WFLA) —Red tide continues to impact beaches across the Tampa Bay area, from Sarasota County to Pinellas County.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission map shows medium concentrations of red tide organisms as far north as Redington Beach, with the highest concentrations in southern Sarasota County

Many beachgoers at Pass-a-Grille Beach in southern Pinellas County Wednesday found themselves coughing along with those around them.

“As soon as we got out of the car here, we started coughing,” said Dave McLarty who is visiting from Iowa.

The beach location is a popular spot for shell-hunters, such as Holly Gasiewicz who is visiting from New York. She’s been enjoying Florida’s west coast for the last three weeks, but only started noticing respiratory irritation in the St. Petersburg area Wednesday.

“It is just starting up this way because we were here the other day and it didn’t bother me at all. It is very irritating, makes you cough like crazy,” said Gasiewicz. “I probably would have stayed longer, but I am ready to go already,” she continued.

Gasiewicz told 8 On Your Side she feels for the local businesses owners in the area who depend on beach crowds.

“Everybody would be doing more, staying longer and enjoying, but you can’t when you are choking,” she said.

Fortunately, beachgoers in southern Pinellas County didn’t spot any dead fish this week. However, it’s a different story for those visiting beaches further south.

In a post on social media Wednesday, FWC officials said “Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides for Pinellas County to northern Monroe County predict northern movement of surface waters and northwestern/western transport of subsurface waters in most areas over the next 3.5 days”.

To check the beach conditions in your area, go to visitbeaches.org.

To view the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) respiratory irritation forecast, visit habforecast.gcoos.org.

You can also check the FWC’s fish kill database and report fish kills on its website.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to hit their 2023 NFL draft class out of the park, and the best way to make that happen is to acquire more dart throws by trading down from the No. 19 overall pick in the first round.

Thanks to a long list of key free agents on both sides of the ball, and a daunting salary cap situation, the Bucs have way more needs than draft picks this year. Trading down in the first round would allow them to grab additional picks on Day 2 and in the middle rounds, and increase their chances of rebuilding their depth and landing impact players in areas of need.

For this mock draft scenario, we’re imaging the Bucs have traded down with the Kansas City Chiefs, dropping down to the final pick in the first round, in return for the No. 64 overall pick in the second round, as well as the No. 135 pick in the fourth round.

In that scenario, here’s what the Bucs could come away with (projected compensatory picks via Tankathon):

Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting are both headed for free agency, so the Bucs will need to find a starting-caliber corner early in this draft. Thankfully for them, it’s a deep class at the top, which means they should be able to land that kind of prospect, even after trading back. Ringo’s 2022 film was a roller-coaster, but he’s got impressive physical traits, and a skill set that would be a perfect fit in Todd Bowles’ defense.

Injuries tanked the Bucs’ interior offensive line before the 2022 season even began, but Nick Leverett, Aaron Stinnie, Robert Hainsey and Luke Goedeke should give them solid depth alongside Ryan Jensen and Shaq Mason next year. The bigger need should be at tackle, where Donovan Smith could be a salary cap casualty, and Tampa Bay’s depth is much thinner. Duncan backed up his solid film with a strong week at the Senior Bowl, and has both the talent and polish to start Day 1 at left tackle.

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Joe Tryon-Shoyinka has shown flashes of potential over his two seasons in Tampa Bay, but not enough consistency, especially when it comes to setting the edge as a run defender. Shaq Barrett just turned 30, and will be coming off a torn Achilles, so spending an early pick on a promising edge rusher like Anudike-Uzomah shouldn’t be out of the question.

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Lavonte David’s contract is up after this year, and even if he returns, he turns 33 in January. It’s time for the Bucs to start grooming a potential replacement to pair with Devin White, and Henley is one of the most underrated defenders in this year’s class.

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Rachaad White is expected to take over the full-time starting role in the backfield, as Leonard Fournette is expected to be released. This year’s running back class is loaded, so it wouldn’t be surprising for Tampa Bay to find a solid partner for White in the middle rounds here. Johnson played second fiddle to Bijan Robinson, but his powerful presence would be the perfect complement to White’s elusive, slashing style.

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Mike Edwards, Keanu Neal, and Logan Ryan are all set to hit free agency, and the Bucs might not be able to afford to keep any of them. That means the safety spot could need some serious help, and Hickman has the combination of size, versatility, and experience against top competition to make an immediate impact.

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Russell Gage was given a hefty contract to be Tampa Bay’s all-important WR3, but he just hasn’t been able to stay healthy. The Bucs should use one of their extra picks to add some receiver depth, and Jason Licht loves his Nebraska guys. Palmer has a solid combination of size, speed and athleticism, and put up strong numbers for the Huskers last year, averaging nearly 15 yards per catch.

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Cade Otton and Ko Kieft both made an immediate impact as rookies last year, but veteran Cameron Brate could be a cap casualty, and the offensive coordinator Dave Canales loves his multiple-tight end sets. That could lead the Bucs to spend a late-round pick on a high-upside prospect at the position to reload the depth, and Whyle fits the bill.

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Akiem Hicks is on a one-year deal, and the Bucs’ rush defense takes a huge hit when he’s not lined up next to Vita Vea. Clark is a big, powerful interior defender who could take over Hicks’ role on early downs, freeing up 2022 second-round pick Logan Hall to remain a pass-rushing specialist inside.

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Kyle Trask is the only quarterback currently under contract for the 2023 season in Tampa Bay. Tom Brady is retiring, and with the overhaul of the offensive coaching staff, Blaine Gabbert isn’t expected to re-sign. This year’s runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, Duggan might not have the physical tools to be an early-round pick, but his competitiveness and intangibles are worth taking a chance on here.

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Ryan Succop was the only player on the roster who consistently scored points for the Bucs this season, but he’ll turn 37 next September, and his struggles from beyond 50 yards have become an issue. Moody nailed a 59-yarder in the Fiesta Bowl, and drilled two more from over 50 yards in the East-West Shrine Game.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to target Mayfield, who's coming off 2022 stints with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angles Rams, as a potential starting quarterback option, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Sunday.

Should the Bucs sign Mayfield when free agency hits this week, he would presumably compete with Kyle Trask for the QB1 spot as Tampa moves on from Tom Brady. Looking for a veteran free-agent QB at the right price, the Buccaneers have a "few guys" they will look at, but Mayfield could be the most sensible choice in terms of being a fit for the team and financially speaking, Garafolo added.

Taking the coveted No. 101 spot in Gregg Rosenthal's top 101 free agents of 2023, Mayfield has had a roller-coaster career since he was taken No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Following four mercurial seasons in Cleveland highlighted by a dynamic rookie campaign and a 2020 playoff run, Mayfield was traded from the Browns to the Carolina Panthers last offseason. Mayfield, who also battled injuries, never clicked with the Panthers and was waived. The Rams gave him shelter from the storm and Mayfield responded with a resounding debut when he led L.A. to a comeback win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

Ultimately, Mayfield's 2022 campaign saw him go 2-8 as a starter with the Panthers and Rams, throwing for 2,163 yards, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 12 games (10 starts). The 27-year-old, who is looking for his fourth club in three seasons, could provide a bit of excitement for the Bucs, but would likely be a big-name bridge until Tampa finds its next franchise QB.

Still needing to do some work to get under the salary cap, the Buccaneers and head coach Todd Bowles are balancing the books and trying to do their best to move on from the loss of Brady. Mayfield has emerged as a candidate to help them do both.

Wait a second, we still have 20 games left to play?

There are unofficial markers in every NHL season. At American Thanksgiving, about 20 games in, teams take a breath and evaluate. It often brings the first flurry of player movement, sometimes a coaching change or two. Softer targets follow over Christmas and during the all-star break in late January, now combined with a bye week.

The biggest marker, 40 days before the end of the regular season, is the trade deadline. It brings change to almost every franchise. You are either a buyer or a seller; few teams are caught in the middle. At 3 p.m. on March 3, the line was drawn. The framework was in place for the rest of the season.

But what looks good on paper doesn’t always play out on the ice. As one new player walks into the locker room, another walks out — changing the dynamic of a close-knit group. It’s hard to quantify, but on-ice performance is only a portion of a trade. Off-ice impact must also be taken into consideration.

There’s also increased pressure on the deadline buyers. Expectations immediately increase, a measure of confidence has been gained, and players often seem to forget that positive change doesn’t create positive results by itself.

On the opposite side of the equation, sellers feel even less pressure than before and often emerge as spoilers, producing surprising results. There are few easy outs after the trade deadline, despite the roster imbalance.

In the first post-deadline week, several teams viewed as big winners struggled, while those at the bottom of the standings scored impressive wins. San Jose, Chicago, Vancouver and Arizona beat much higher ranked teams, reminders that points are not handed out freely at this time of year.

The pressure has ramped up on three teams in particular with playoff aspirations: the New York Rangers (who added Vladimir Tarasenko, Patrick Kane and Niko Mikkola) were 4-5-1 in their last 10 games through Saturday; the Winnipeg Jets (with Nino Niederreiter) struggled to 3-5-2 of late; and perhaps the biggest surprise of all, the Tampa Bay Lightning (who acquired Tanner Jeannot) were in a 3-4-3 slide.

Trade additions contributed heavily to Tampa Bay’s three consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup final, where they won in 2020 and 2021. They’ve seemed to know exactly what they need, and are comfortable paying high prices. While it remains to be seen if Jeannot pans out, coach Jon Cooper has already resorted to desperate measures — benching stars Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point in the same game, an unusual move that raised eyebrows leaguewide.

There have been more contenders on the upswing in the West, which was relatively quiet on the trade front. The Minnesota Wild (who spirited John Klingberg out of Anaheim) have been on an 8-0-2 run. The Los Angeles Kings (with the additions of Joonas Korpisalo and Vladislav Gavrikov) put up five straight Ws before Saturday night’s shootout loss to Nashville. And after the surprising move of veteran goalie Jonathan Quick from L.A. to Vegas (via Columbus) the Golden Knights were on a 5-1-0 roll heading into Sunday, mirroring the Dallas Stars near the top of the conference standings.

Always lurking, though, is risk of injury, as the Maple Leafs were reminded when prized acquisition Ryan O’Reilly was lost for the rest of the regular season with a broken finger. The veteran centre had made an immediate impact on a team that was the busiest before the deadline, with six newcomers.

The best-laid plans of deadline wheelers and dealers always come with a qualifier: We still have 20 games left to play.

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he Blackhawks fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 at Amalie Arena on Saturday in a heartbreaker.T

Here are 10 observations from the loss:

1. The Blackhawks slipped to 1-10-1 in the second game of a back-to-back this season, and they've been outscored 42-19 in those 12 games for a goal differential of -23.

2. Taylor Raddysh scored the game-tying goal early in the third period for his 17th of the season and his third in as many games. The assists? Cole Guttman and Tyler Johnson, all three of whom were associated with the Lightning organization at one point.

3. It was the Brayden Point Show in Tampa Bay. He scored the first two goals for the Lightning, including the game-winner with 59.7 seconds left in regulation to put his team ahead 2-1. An absolute heartbreaker for the Blackhawks, who made a strong push in the third period. Point tallied his 42nd and 43rd goals of the season, which surpasses his previous season-high of 41.

4. You don't see this very often in today's NHL, but Petr Mrazek started on back-to-back nights because Alex Stalock is still sick. The Blackhawks recalled veteran goaltender Anton Khudobin but he served as the backup. Mrazek was almost a brick wall yet again. He finished with 34 saves on 36 shots for a save percentage of .944.

5. If you didn't watch the first period, you missed absolutely nothing. The Blackhawks had only four shots on goal and the Lightning had just seven. The most exciting thing that happened was Ian Mitchell nearly scoring on a dump-in attempt from the neutral zone.

Ian Mitchell comes *THIS* close to scoring on a dump-in attempt from the neutral zone. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/m1UYNWbR0Q

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) March 12, 2023

6. For the third straight game, Seth and Caleb Jones led the team in ice time at 27:26 and 23:49, respectively. With Jack Johnson and Jake McCabe no longer here and Connor Murphy out for personal reasons, the Blackhawks have really had to lean on the Jones brothers post-trade deadline.

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7. Steven Stamkos appeared to suffer a left leg injury in the first period, and he did not return. Anthony Cirelli also exited briefly in the second period after colliding with Jason Dickinson at center ice but returned shortly after. Not an ideal time to be dealing with key players going down for the Lightning, who just got back Victor Hedman after he missed a week due to an injury. You hope Stamkos isn't out for an extended period of time because that would be a crusher.

8. Brandon Hagel is having a terrific season for Tampa Bay. He scored the empty netter with 2 seconds left, and is on pace to finish with 28 goals, 35 assists and 63 points, which would be a career-high in all three offensive categories. He's played most of his minutes on the first line with Point. When the two of them are on the ice together at even strength, the Lightning control 58.5 percent of the scoring chances, per Natural Stat Trick. That's a dominant number.

9. Funny note on the broadcast by play-by-play announcer Chris Vosters: Michael Eyssimont has now faced the Blackhawks four times this season, with three different teams. He started with Winnipeg, was claimed off waivers by San Jose, and then got traded to Tampa Bay at the deadline. In both of those games when he was with the Jets, he found himself at the center of a bit of controversy.

In the first game, he blatantly interfered with Andreas Athanasiou but it went uncalled. In the second, Eyssimont shoved Jack Johnson's head onto the ice and it led to a scuffle, although the anger stemmed from Eyssimont not liking the cross-check he took from Johnson in front of the net seconds before.

10. It looks like Tampa Bay is on a collision course to play Toronto in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second straight season. Give me the Maple Leafs in that series. They're a much better defensive team that they get credit for. Plus, it's their time, and I just think the Lightning will run out of gas after making deep playoff runs for three straight years.