Reel Time: Suncoast Waterkeeper’s vision expands

Suncoast Waterkeeper (SCWK) has seen phenomenal growth over the last several years. In that time, they have hired an accomplished wetlands scientist as executive...

Reel Time: Harbinger of spring

I just heard my first whippoorwill last night, a harbinger of spring. While we might still be a few cold fronts away from spring,...

Reel Time: Take a kid fishing

Reflecting back on the importance fishing has had on my life, I’d like to pass on some of the things I’ve learned over the...

Reel Time: Waterman tournament challenging

The fourth annual Waterman Fly Fishing Tournament was held this past weekend. The two-day, fly-only redfish tournament with a snook calcutta was a sellout...

Reel Time: ‘Gulf, The Making of an American Sea’

This article originally appeared in Reel Time in 2018. It’s republished here, (with revisions) because I think the message it imparts has never been...

Rusty Chinnis

Rusty Chinnis is an avid fly fisherman, a photojournalist and a retired building contractor in addition to being a passionate defender of the local environment's importance to the health and economy of the area. A 42-year resident of Longboat Key and Manatee County, he is chairman of the board of Suncoast Waterkeeper, a founder and former co-chairman of the Sister Keys Conservancy, and founder and chairman emeritus of Sarasota Bay Watch in addition to being The Sun's Outdoors columnist. Email