Scientists weigh in on Piney Pointâs impact on fishing Piney Point's impact on local fishing By Justin Hobbs | April 9, 2021 at 9:32 PM EDT - Updated April 9 at 10:52 PM SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Cars continue to pack the south side of the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier and fishermen are still casting their lines in light of the Piney Point spill. These fishermen are not only hoping they snag a good catch but also they are hoping that the Piney Point spill isnât impacting whatâs on their lines. With the South Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier being roughly six miles away from the Piney Point spill in Port Manatee, scientists at The University of South Florida are concerned.