Bulletin Post

Sea Nettles Are Back

The Chesapeake's summer jellyfish are back. Sea nettles typically show up in the middle Bay by mid-June and stick around through September. Warmer, saltier water triggers the bloom, so the lower tributaries and open Bay usually see them first, with numbers climbing through the summer.

The South River generally stays fresher than the open Bay, which usually means fewer nettles closer to Liberty than a few miles south. If you're swimming or anchoring for a dip, check the water first. Should you get stung, rinse with vinegar or bay water — not fresh water, which makes it worse — and remove any tentacles carefully with the edge of a credit card or something similar.