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Reel Time

Outdoors, Reel Time

Reel Time: Giving back

Oct 10, 2023 – Rusty Chinnis
September 4, 2023
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: Exploring FWC’s School Fishing Club Program

Now that the new school year is in session, it is time to register for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) 2023-24 School Fishing Club Program! This annual educational pro…
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September 1, 2023
By Rusty Chinnis
Sarasota Bay Watch Scallop Search resumes

Sarasota Bay Watch Scallop Search resumes

Sarasota Bay Watch, a local nonprofit, is dedicated to educating and enlisting the Sarasota Bay community to act to preserve and protect our waters. Some community efforts include cleanups, above and…
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August 15, 2023
By Rusty Chinnis

Suncoast Waterkeeper urges protection of wetlands

In a recent column, I reported how state rules and regulations passed during the DeSantis legislative session limited the protection of local waters at a time when the threat to water quality and hab…
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August 8, 2023
By Rusty Chinnis
Florida Sea Grant needs boaters’ help

Florida Sea Grant needs boaters’ help

If you’re a boater, Sea Grant can use your help. If you are a reader of this column, you know that our waters are suffering from too many nutrients, the various forms of insults that lead to devastat…
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July 31, 2023
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: Generation Alpha speaks out for the future

It seems a little unfair that short-sighted decisions made by politicians in 2023 can have such a profound effect on the future of those who still have no voice in those choices. That’s why it’s impo…
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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 17, 2023
By Rusty Chinnis
Suncoast Waterkeeper christens new patrol boat

Suncoast Waterkeeper christens new patrol boat

Island residents have two opportunities to join in on the christening of Suncoast Waterkeeper’s new patrol boat and the launch of Eyes on the Suncoast, an improved citizen pollution and habitat monit…
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July 11, 2023
By Rusty Chinnis
Reel Time: Hot weather strategy

Reel Time: Hot weather strategy

Anglers are no strangers to Dog Days, those hot, sultry times when even the lizards are lurking in the shadows. We know that a change of strategy will be in order soon. What we are strangers to is th…
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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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June 26, 2023
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: Fly casting mastery

Teaching fly casting has taught me some valuable lessons. Chief among them is the fact that it’s most often easier to learn from scratch using the fundamentals (physics) of the cast than it is to cor…
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Upcoming Events

April 9, 2025
11:45 am

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