Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a growing concern worldwide. In the state of Georgia, USA harmful algae have been observed in coastal estuaries, however bloom concentrations have not been observed. In the summer of 2017, in response to significant oyster larvae mortality at the University of Georgia’s Shellfish Research Laboratory (UGA SRL), a large, novel bloom of the dinoflagellate Akashiwo sanguinea , was recorded. In 2017, bloom concentrations peaked at ~2.5 x 105 cells L-1 in early July, followed by enhanced abundance in August. In 2018, peak abundance was significantly lower (~2.7 X 104 cells L-1) , and no bloom occurred in 2019. Abiotic and biotic factors were also investigated to explore drivers of A. sanguinea accumulation in the SRE, including transparent exopolymer particles (TEP), temperature, and concurrent community abundance . Investigation of past documentation found that periods of enhanced A. sanguinea abundance were coincident with previous oyster larvae mortality events experienced by the UGA SRL. The work presented here highlights the importance of understanding the ecology of harmful algal bloom species in the Skidaway River Estuary, in light of the growing oyster aquaculture industry in coastal Georgia.