FIVE THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT: Rusty Chinnis

You know him as the founder of Sarasota Bay Watch, the owner of Rusty Chinnis Contractor and the guru of all things fishing. Now, we present five things you didn’t know about Rusty Chinnis.

1. FISH TALES: The biggest fish he ever caught was a 130-pound tarpon on Longboat Pass.

2. MAN ON THE CLOTH: His first job was working at a laundry in Richmond, Va.

3. BRICK BY BRICK: By his estimate, he has remodeled at least 120 homes — all on Longboat Key.

4. FIT TO PRINT: Chinnis has won numerous awards for his outdoor writing and photography, including four 2010 awards from the Florida Outdoor Writers Association.

5. HOME RUN: Chinnis’ father worked in the railroads, which meant a lot of moving: As a child, Chinnis never lived in any one place for more than two years. But here on Longboat Key, he’s found his home: He has lived on the island for more than 30 years.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].