Author: Guest Columnist

Gasparilla economics experiment with the family

August 8, 2024
Guest Columnist
Columns, Society

BY MATTHEW HACKL There are few times in life you find the opportunity to upgrade from uncle to “the cool uncle.” My venture arrived in the form of a Gasparilla Island shopping spree. James, 11,...

SW Florida Fishing: A days catch…

Capt. Brad puts you on the fish, you catch the fish, you enjoy lots of fish dinners! Photos provided by Capt. Brad Capt. Brad Hickman can be reach at 941-716-3757 or OffshoreBocaGrande.com. ...

SW Florida Fishing: Big reds … snapper that is

Mixed grouper and snappers can be found. Photos provided by Capt. Brad Capt. Brad Hickman can be reach at 941-716-3757 or OffshoreBocaGrande.com. p23Download

Turtle Patrol: Reporting on how we report, plus ‘hidden’ disturbances

BY ARLENE HALL, BGSTA SECRETARY As I’ve mentioned in this column on many occasions, one important aspect of our duties as BGSTA turtle patrollers is to collect data for FWC. We not only collect...

Turtle report: Not at loggerheads about whether it’s a loggerhead

BY ARLENE HALL, BGSTA SECRETARY Almost daily on my turtle patrols, I’m approached by someone on the beach with questions about sea turtles and what we do for them. Two of the most common questions...

Turtle report: Thought it was false crawl, turned out to be bona fide!

BY ARLENE HALL, BGSTA SECRETARY When people learn that I volunteer with BGSTA’s Turtle Patrol, so many of them say how much they would love to do that too, so I figured I would bring you along...

The Grand Old Lady: Remembering the Boca Grande Hotel, 1930-72

BY JAMES BLAHA, BOCA GRANDE HISTORICAL SOCIETY On February 10, 1930, the following article appeared in the Fort Myers News-Press: “Plans for a three-story resort hotel at Boca Grande to cost approximately...

SW Florida Fishing: Water temps up and so is fishin’

BY CAPT. WILL WATERHOUSE The summer heat has started to really bring water temperatures up making the inshore shallow water fishing a little finicky. Lots of snook are still being caught but look...

SW Florida Fishing: On Team Red…

The red snapper bite was good that day. Photos provided by Capt. Brad Capt. Brad Hickman can be reached at 941-716-3757 or OffshoreBocaGrande.com p23-1Download

Turtle report: Disoriented hatchlings don’t need blazing lights on beach

BY ARLENE HALLBGSTA SECRETARY Last week, I mentioned that our earliest loggerhead nests had started to hatch. Generally, loggerhead nests will incubate for 45 to 70 days. If the nests are up in...