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It does factor in often enough. We get pretty big fish kills from "red tide" which is some sort of algae bloom. Lots of agricultural run off causes lots of problems in general for us, and of course, friggin Lake Okeechobee is still doing water releases down the river, and that messes with the estuary and also has a nasty green algae associated with it. The A.C.E is working the problem for real finally, and construction of a reservoir. That being said, it's still a great place to fish. More so if you have a boat that can do real skinny water..... like 18 in draft. The back water, and flats fishing is still great. They use to hold the international Tarpon turny at Boca Grande which is just a few miles north. Had to move it after many years. The sharks would have a field day, and many big fish never made to the boat. Boca Grande is a special place. For like 100 years, there was a dock where all the phosphate from this area would go for transport. With all the spilling over the years, it had a huge effect on Boca Grande. The water to this day is about as pure as you're gonna find for a coastal area, and sea life thrives there. Very popular for Tarpon, and of course, sharks. My last trip there was kind of a disaster. Late day, high 90's, and we're sitting near the marker for Boca Grande pass, waiting for the other two boats to catch up. I figured I'd cool off, and jumped in. It was amazing. We were in about 25 ft of water, and you could see the bottom clear as day. I'm swimming around a bit, and something hits my foot. I look and see about a 6 or 7 ft spotted ray banking a turn down towards the bottom. Remember that line from Apocalypse Now..... never get off the ******* boat ! I did a combination of Jesus, and Chef freakin out getting back onto the boat. Lost a good anchor, and about 200 ft of rope, and then the fun began. Mike and Patrick were really wasted by the time midnight rolled around, and we were heading in. Me ,Dan, and Dave were in Dans boat, Randy Was in Alans boat, and Mike and Christy were in Patricks boat. Naturally we made it to the channel marker first, and were sitting there. Randy and Alan make it, and we see Patricks boat coming. He comes blowing right past us, and out into the open gulf.... in a 16 ft bow rider. Complete cloud cover so no natural light. Before we knew what happened, there through the pass, and out of sight. So we wait.... 10 minutes... 15.... and Randy wants to go search for them also in a small under powered boat. We squash that idea... Hey, Patrick had a cell phone, who knows his number.... you could hear a pin drop. OK wait... I'll page Mike, and give him Daves cell number. Bingo ! we get Mike on the phone. They had only just then realize the screwed up. The conversation was classic. They could see no lights in any direction, and of course, they had no compass. Don't know why it popped into my head, but I want old school, and took the hundred bazillion candle power spot light Dan had, and pointed it at the clouds..... the "Bat Signal", and it worked. We told them to look for the light on the clouds. They said it really far, but they could see it. An hour later, they were pulling along side..... with beers in hand. Thankfully, the rest of the trip back was uneventful.
I doubt I'll ever get in the water in Boca Grand again, and I don't even wade into the water at night anymore. Perfectly glassy water, and I'm about 20 yards out.... belly deep. I felt the water "move" behind me... enough to make me wobble. A few seconds later, the breaks about 10 ft to my right, with a fin coming right at me. Did another Jesus, and was on shore amazingly fast. Saw my bait bucket get bounced into, so I grab my spot light, and there I see the fin going by, and a puff of misty air.... friggin dolphin being curious. Too many big animals round these parts. They spotted another whale shark last week. Kid I work with landed about a 6 ft lemon shark Monday... 8 ft hammer heads aren't uncommon, along with lots of smaller sharks like black tips, which are very popular to nail.... very good eating.
OK, I'm ramblin here. Oh, one more thing. If you do a little research you may find a lake that is a reclaimed phosphate mine. Best fresh water lake fishing bar none.
I've had a lot of luck with crickets, and minnows too (I hook them through the tail). But sometimes, it's just about trying different baits and lures (and colors) until you start getting a response. I'm not an expert fisherman, but I have fished a lot over the years. Maybe some of the other guys can give you more insight. If I were going to avoid the crabs, I'd get the bait off the bottom (put a light weight on the bottom and have your hooks set up 2 or 3 feet above them so they are suspended above the bottom.