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Rusty Chinnis

Rusty Chinnis

March 7, 2017
Rusty Chinnis is The Sun’s Outdoors columnist.
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March 18, 2026
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: Remembering Captain Zach

Captain Zach Zacharias was a staunch lover and defender of fishing and the habitat that supported it. 
March 10, 2026
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time on The Road: Fishing the Chass

Locally, we’re blessed with an amazing fishery and a natural world that supports it. As good as the fishing can be close by, every angler has an urge to experience someplace that’s unique, less crowd…
March 3, 2026
By Rusty Chinnis

On the Cusp: legislative action needed

As of March 3, the Florida House of Representives had not adopted legislation to help fix the problems created by Senate Bill 180 in 2025.
February 24, 2026
By Rusty Chinnis

The Waterman 2026: Fishing for a purpose

The annual Waterman Fly Fishing Tournament was held Friday and Saturday, Feb. 20 and 21.
February 18, 2026
By Rusty Chinnis

Scallopalooza 2026: “Taking Action to Preserve Our Bay”

On Saturday night, March 7, Sarasota Bay Watch will hold its 16th annual major fundraising event, Scallopalooza. This year’s theme is “Taking Action to Preserve Our Bay.” Scallopalooza is an annu…
February 10, 2026
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: Think like a fish

Fishermen are forever trying to divine the secrets of fish behavior in an attempt to fool them into taking our submissions of fur and feather, lures in a kaleidoscope of shapes and colors or live off…
February 4, 2026
By Rusty Chinnis

The Cruise Port: A Cautionary Tale

By now, most of you are probably aware of the proposed cruise port that would be adjacent to Rattlesnake Key and the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve. This port, as it is envisioned, would handle the n…
January 28, 2026
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: The Secret

Rusty Chinnis explores “the secret” to fly casting.
January 21, 2026
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: The Price of Inattention

I first wrote an article with a similar title more than four and a half years ago, but I thought it was appropriate to revisit that topic given the constant challenges facing anglers and the waters t…
January 13, 2026
By Rusty Chinnis
Reel Time: Why Mullet Jump

Reel Time: Why Mullet Jump

While I was sitting by the bay the other day a mullet jumped right in front of me. That’s not unusual if you spend anytime near the water, and it elicited memories of stories I’ve heard over the year…
January 5, 2026
By Rusty Chinnis
Reel Time: A New Winter Strategy

Reel Time: A New Winter Strategy

Winter can have a chilling effect on local anglers and limit their quarry, but those who know how to mine the riches of any season turn their attention to the species that actually thrives in cold wa…
December 30, 2025
By Rusty Chinnis
Resolutions that bear fruit

Resolutions that bear fruit

New Year’s resolutions are an annual ritual that goes back over 4,000 years. The earli­est known resolutions come from the ancient Babylonians. During their Akitu New Year festival (held in March), p…
December 25, 2025
By Rusty Chinnis
December 22, 2025
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: Rebuilding oyster habitat

On Dec. 20, Oyster River Ecology (ORE) board member Rob Brown and I participated in an ORE rag pot installation in the upper Manatee River near Redfish Point. The volunteer event, a partnership with…
December 16, 2025
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: We protect what we love

Several years ago, I remember watching a tribute to the late John Lewis, the Black American politician and civil-rights leader. Lewis encouraged people to speak up and act when they see wrongs that n…