From Every Angle: Decades of Change in the Sarasota–Manatee Estuary Through the Eyes of Its Fishermen
March 19, 2026
Fish can tell you a lot about the health of an estuary, and so can the people who catch them. From snook and redfish to seagrass and water clarity, local fishermen from different generations share firsthand observations of Sarasota Bay through time.
“Just about anything you’d catch in the bay eats shrimp,” Matt said while skimming a bait tank with a net. He went on to explain the various bait species and techniques, answering questions about size, species, and sources. To him, this is the very basics of his craft. To many, he represents the knowledgeable and deeply connected fishing community that has become ambassadors of local waterways.
An avid fisherman will discuss just about anything related to the water. Anything except the location of their favorite lesser-known fishing spots. We spoke with a crew of fishermen who have been here for varying lengths of time to gauge their perspective on bay health. Their observations are paired with recent data on seagrass, fisheries, and water quality.
Matt & Mekayla: The Bay’s Current Generation
Matthew Bossick has been in Sarasota for eight years, having moved from Hilton Head, South Carolina, where he spent 13 years fishing. He now works in a bait shop and promotes dolphin tours. Outside of the shop, Matt is engaged in snook, redfish, flounder, and grouper tagging programs with Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.
“Fishermen definitely see subtle changes…you’re not going to see that just by researching from shore or in a lab,” said Matt. “Being out on the water so much, I’ve definitely seen the change in the fishery and the decline due to hurricanes, red tides, and pollution.”
He elaborated on these shifts, noting a slight decline in snook and redfish, but bigger and more prolific spotted seatrout. He attributes that to the trout’s prey, shrimp and baitfish, being especially abundant this year.
Matt’s observations align closely with the 2024 Fisheries Independent Monitoring (FIM) report produced by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The report tracks long-term trends in fish populations, habitat use, and seasonal patterns. Key takeaways include:
- Juvenile snook are similar or slightly lower than post-2018 red tide levels
- Redfish schools are still present but less abundant
- Spotted seatrout are experiencing an episodic boom, likely linked to bait availability and water quality
He wasn’t familiar with the report, but his observations were spot on.
Matt’s colleague and bait shop manager, Mekayla Baliles, has spent six years fishing Sarasota Bay. She holds a U.S. Coast Guard captain’s license and has an innate ability to get anyone excited about the estuary.
“Seagrass has been pretty solid…we’ve caught a bunch of redfish and snook back there…the fishery is getting better,” she said. Mekayla’s store, Bridge Street Bait Shop, is located in Bradenton Beach. She noted that their shop’s dolphin sightseeing tours rarely leave the Palma Sola Bay area anymore. “You can look down and see stingrays, bonnetheads… dolphins and manatees. They are all there.”
Her lived experience aligns well with scientific findings. Palma Sola Bay is a documented dolphin nursery and the epicenter of recent seagrass recovery. According to the latest mapping by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, Sarasota Bay saw a 19% increase in seagrass coverage between 2022 and 2024, adding nearly 1,912 acres bay-wide. Most of the gains were located in north Sarasota Bay and Palma Sola Bay. They are the second largest increase in more than 30 years and reflect recovery in areas that had declined in previous years. Successes are largely attributed to reduced nitrogen levels and improved water clarity.
Mekayla made it clear that sightseeing may be straightforward, but fishing in the bay isn’t. “I used to fish in the Keys. It’s a lot easier. Here, you can’t just throw out some chum. Snook can see you, so you have to watch your shadows and really think before every cast. It’s a challenge. It makes you think as a fisherman. It’s not just throwing out bait and waiting.”
Nor is it simply catching fish; it’s how you handle them. “The big thing for newer fishermen is handling fish with care,” Matt said. “If you’re not going to keep it, it needs to go back in the water as soon as possible.”
“Bend the barbs down…use tools to avoid touching the fish…preserve the mucus on their body. It’s like skin to us,” added Rusty Chinnis, a 40-year Sarasota Bay resident, fisherman, author, and bay advocate.
Rusty & Justin: Decades on the Water
Rusty is a seasoned angler. He has been fishing in Sarasota Bay for more than three decades. His perspective is shaped by a deep understanding of what’s been lost and what’s at stake. Chronicles of a changing coast, like Jack Davis’ The Gulf, compel him to share the story of this landscape.
“Back in the 50s and 60s, developments and little trailer parks dumped almost untreated sewage into the bay…now we’ve seen improvements with estuary programs, but big hurricanes and pollution still cause declines.”
He works closely with advocacy groups like the Suncoast Waterkeepers to raise awareness about land use and policy decisions that influence the bay. Large investments in infrastructure, he says, remain essential.
Rusty describes the bay’s challenges as “death by a thousand cuts.” Wastewater spills, stormwater runoff, and long-term development pressures all add up. With immense population growth since he arrived, it’s unsurprising that the changes have been tangible.
Recent gains in seagrass are encouraging, yet total coverage across Sarasota Bay remains roughly 12% below its peak in 2016, when the bay recorded its highest acreage. Even so, current levels are about 36% higher than in 1988. These patterns of loss and recovery mirror Rusty’s firsthand observations of a bay in constant environmental and social change. “It seems like for every 20 people you educate, 50 or 60 more people are here that don’t know any better. That’s why education is so important.”
Still, he emphasizes that solutions exist and participation matters. “You hear a lot of people complaining about how bad things are, but too few people are actually doing something about it. Learn why mangroves are important. Learn what affects water quality. Don’t let landscaping debris go into the canals. Take care of pet waste. Small things like that.”
For those whose livelihoods depend on the bay, these changes carry even more weight.
Captain Justin Moore has spent more than 30 years fishing in Sarasota Bay, Palma Sola Bay, and the Gulf. He represents the charter fishing community and brings a long-term, livelihood-driven perspective to bay health.
“A lot has changed, in good ways and bad,” he said. “We don’t have the bigger snook inshore like we did 10–20 years ago, but we have more juveniles. And we’re seeing bigger trout this year. We haven’t seen that in about 15 years.”
His observations align with broader trends. Events like the 2010 freeze, red tides, and habitat degradation have reshaped the fishery. Juvenile snook remain present, but larger adults are less common.
He has also seen changes in habitat. “You need seagrass for juvenile fish, mullet, birds—everything. The more time you spend on the water, the more you understand it.”
Despite gains in deeper seagrass areas, shallow beds remain stressed. Justin and others point to nutrient inputs and infrastructure challenges as ongoing concerns. “Seagrass in shallow water is struggling. Manatee River, Palma Sola Bay—hurricanes, runoff, increased sedimentation—all of this changes it. The bay might need to cycle and flush the algae.”
There are also growing social pressures. Tourism, guiding, and social media have increased fishing pressure on popular areas. “I counted 18 boats in one spot,” he said. “That’s not good for the fish or the industry.”
Justin says that younger captains are focused on catching and posting. “It’s not about that. It’s about respecting the water.”
Still, he remains grounded in both realism and appreciation. “Florida is changing…we still have a good fishery, but we need to be careful. I want my six-year-old son to love fishing, but I don’t know if I’d want him in this business.”
He reflected on how his relationship with the water has changed over time. “It’s okay to take, but you have to give back. If you see trash, pick it up. If you see something wrong, report it. Be a good steward of the sea if that’s how you’re going to make your living.”
Next in Line
How you use the bay influences how you see it. A boater may notice water clarity and navigation. A fisherman tracks seagrass density, bait movement, and subtle shifts in species. It’s a relationship shaped by time, experience, and perspective.
As our conversation wound down, a young fisherman, maybe five years old, walked through the door, sharing what he had caught that day. In that moment, there were no longer just two generations in the room, but three.
Rusty took a moment to come full circle. “We should think about what this affects seven generations into the future,” he said. “Saving water and fish for a six-year-old—what about his children? His grandchildren?”
That’s something the data, anglers, and anecdotes can all agree on. Despite our unique history with the local environment, we all play the same role in its future.
Learn More
- About seagrass in Sarasota Bay: https://sarasotabay.org/our-estuaries/seagrass-algae-monitoring/
- About Fisheries Independent Monitoring: https://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/fim/
- To view individual reports on redfish, snook, and seatrout, visit SBEP's Technical Library