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Fishing

Stone crab season closes
Fishing, Outdoors

Stone crab season closes

Apr 30, 2024 – Leslie Lake
January 29, 2024
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: Capture the moments

Digital photography and videography continue to evolve as phones advance. Anglers have never had more access to capturing images and videos, right in their pocket. Whether you are capturing a picture…
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January 23, 2024
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: Using push poles

Push poles have been used to propel boats for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Today’s push poles have come a long way since then. They’ve evolved from wooden poling oars hewn from tree limbs to…
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December 23, 2023
By Rusty Chinnis
Luck is when opportunity meets preparedness

Reel Time: Luck is when opportunity meets preparedness

Whether you’re fishing local water, stalking bonefish in the Bahamas, poling a flat in Charlotte Harbor for tailing redfish, or any number of angling scenarios, we anglers spend the majority of our t…
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December 5, 2023
By Rusty Chinnis
Former county commissioner files wetlands ruling challenge

Reel Time: Former county commissioner files wetlands ruling challenge

The decision to reduce local wetland buffers to Florida state minimum standards by the Manatee County Commission has been challenged by former commissioner Joe McClash. The policy couched by commiss…
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November 28, 2023
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time on the Road: Andros North Bight

“Strip, long strip, stop, short strip, stop, strip,” Harry Neymour called out as I watched the bonefish home in on my fly. Neymour had spotted three fish as they hunted a shoreline in the Dressing Ro…
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October 17, 2023
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: Learn how to tie your own flies

When I first started fly fishing, I would buy my flies from local fly shops and occasionally, guide friends would supply me with the flies I was using. Eventually, through necessity, I started tying…
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July 24, 2023
By Rusty Chinnis
Become a Florida-friendly angler

Become a Florida-friendly angler

If you’re new to Florida or need a refresher course in the basic practices of ethical angling, the Florida Sea Grant program has just the course for you – the Florida Friendly Angler Program. With f…
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July 3, 2023
By Rusty Chinnis
Legislation imperils local waters

Reel Time: Legislation imperils local waters

At a time when the need to move water quality issues in a positive direction should be crystal clear, decisionmakers (and, by default, the citizens who elected them) are weakening protections that ar…
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April 10, 2023
By Rusty Chinnis
Reel Time: All about pompano

Reel Time: All about pompano

Pompano range from the upper eastern U.S. coast to Texas, but the most consistent action is encountered from the Carolinas to Texas. Although they are a relatively common species along our coast, the…
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April 3, 2023
By Rusty Chinnis
Reel Time: Anatomy of a fishing rod

 Reel Time: Anatomy of a Fishing Rod

Every angler’s fishing rod, be it a spinning rod, a fly rod or a casting rod, is constructed in a similar way and has the same basic parts. Have you ever wondered why one rod is more expensive than a…
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Upcoming Events

April 9, 2025
11:45 am

The Off-Stage Ladies of the Island Players, April luncheon meeting