TAMPA The red tide bloom in the Gulf of Mexico that was threatening the tourist-soaked beaches of Pinellas County reversed its course last week and began ebbing from the coastline.

That was great news for the visitor-dependent beach communities hoping to be spared the coughing and wheezing brought on by red tide toxins and the stench of dead fish washing ashore.

Then, as quickly as scientists spotted the about-face, the red tide again switched courses and continued its march toward shore.

The red tide bloom off Pasco and Pinellas counties had been moving north-northwest for almost a week, said Jason Lenes, a researcher with the University of South Floridas Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides.

Yesterday, the currents reversed again, he said Wednesday, and the forecast for the next three days is back to the south-southeast.

The wobble is not unusual this time of year, he said, as weather systems brushing over the state dictate the direction of the bloom.

The bloom was spotted about six weeks ago and stretched about 20 to 40 miles offshore between Dixie and Pasco counties. It was estimated to be some 90 miles long and 60 miles wide, the largest Gulf bloom since 2006.

This week, the bloom remained between 5 and 35 miles offshore in Taylor and Levy counties and 10 to 20 miles offshore from Levy south to Pasco County.

Over the Labor Day weekend, dead fish began washing up on Honeymoon Island in north Pinellas County. They likely were killed by red tide farther offshore and to the north, scientists said, though there was some evidence of red tide close to shore. Scientists two weeks ago said the bloom had drifted to within 5 miles of the coastline.

Lenes said that along the coastline, the currents mainly are controlled by the direction and intensity of the winds.

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Red tide nears Pinellas beaches after brief retreat