Skip to main content
Rusty Chinnis

Rusty Chinnis

March 7, 2017
Rusty Chinnis is The Sun’s Outdoors columnist.
Email Rusty Chinnis
September 5, 2018
By Rusty Chinnis
Reel Time

Reel Time: On the road to St. Marys and Cumberland Island, Ga.

This past week I had the pleasure of an adventure to coastal Georgia when I accompanied my wife to a tai chi workshop in St. Marys. St. Marys is the gateway to Cumberland Island National Seashore, th…
August 29, 2018
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: The good, the bad and the ugly

This past Sunday morning I launched my boat to check out the red tide situation and look for places to fish. In the process what I found both discouraged and encouraged me.  The condition of local wa…
August 7, 2018
By Rusty Chinnis

Sarasota Bay Watch provides a vehicle for change

If you’re like me, you can’t help but be dismayed with the death and destruction of marine life that is occurring on the west and east coasts of Florida. Pictures of dead fish, manatees, dolphin a…
July 31, 2018
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: Beat the summer heat

Late summer is always a challenging time for local anglers. The bizarre conditions of the last two weeks have complicated things with oppressive heat and strong westerly winds. This morning the weath…
July 17, 2018
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: Trade show features fishing gear

On Wednesday, July 11, I attended ICAST, the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades held in Orlando, Fla. I made the trip with Steve Traves, owner of AMI Outfitters, and Capt. Casey L…
July 3, 2018
By Rusty Chinnis

Protecting and preserving the Gulf

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands but seeing with new eyes. – Marcel Proust As I read Jack Davis’ new novel, “Gulf, The Making of An American Sea” this quote by the semi…
June 19, 2018
By Rusty Chinnis

Sarasota Bay Watch restoring clams

Sarasota Bay Watch conducted its fourth large-scale planting of Southern hard-shell clams Saturday, June 16. Over 30,000 clams were transported from Pine Island Sound and loaded onto a barge provided…
June 12, 2018
By Rusty Chinnis

The evolution of Homosassa tarpon fishing

It was in the mid to late 70s when the floodgates opened up in the area. It was a time when the world’s greatest fly anglers and guides made an annual May migration to Homosassa. Billy Pate, Joe Robi…
June 5, 2018
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: The apex of angling

Tarpon could be said to be angling’s Holy Grail. I’ve heard top Keys guides refer to catching a tarpon on fly as the apex of angling. While most Floridians think that it was crystalline blue water an…
May 29, 2018
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: Captains for Clean Water protecting resource

When we’re not fishing we love to read about fishing. We devour articles, books, websites and blogs for enjoyment and to learn about new fisheries and ways to increase our catch. We spend a lot of ti…
May 15, 2018
By Rusty Chinnis
reel time Casting For Recovery

Casting for recovery

The cool air along the Chattahoochee River mingled with the mid-morning sun created a magical backdrop for the female fly fishers as they worked their way along the stream with their guides. I had…
May 1, 2018
By Rusty Chinnis

Cleaning up the Sister Keys

Sarasota Bay Watch (SBW) conducted its annual Sister Keys Clean Up on Saturday, April 28. The event was hosted by the Chiles Group and held on the beach at the Mar Vista Dockside restaurant. On this…
April 23, 2018
By Rusty Chinnis
Reel Time

Spring training: Part 2

Last week we discussed some of the exciting opportunities that spring offers. This week I wanted to share some of the special prospects this particular season presents anglers. I was fortunate to get…
April 17, 2018
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: Get the most out of spring fishing

Spring is definitely in the air. It’s one of my favorite times of the year and one of the most productive for all anglers, whether they fish with fly, artificial lures or live bait. This week and nex…
April 3, 2018
By Rusty Chinnis
Hunter Brasington

Generation next

A cool wind ruffled the waters of the Manatee River and clouds scudded overhead as we left the relative calm of Warner’s Bayou and the 59th Street boat ramp. These were less than ideal conditions for…