Author: Guest Columnist

Turtle report: Please stop pulling up yellow stakes protecting nests

BY ARLENE HALLBGSTA SECRETARY The most exciting part of turtle nesting season began last week, when hatchlings from the first couple of loggerhead nests started emerging from the sand. With the...

Keeping a father’s memory alive on Little Gasparilla

BY KRISTEN VARELA-SCHILD At my father’s memorial, I was a little jealous. Jealous of the stories my brother told of connecting with my father nearly every weekend at their hunting lodge; sitting...

Summer at the Boca Grande History Center

BY THE BOCA GRANDE HISTORICAL SOCIETY The late Robert Fischer, author of “Boca Grande: Once A Railroad Town,” wrote that there are “Many beautiful places to live or vacation in southwest Florida...

SW Florida Fishing: Offshore heating up…

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CAPT. BRAD HICKMAN When it comes to grouper offshore, count on a few gag groupers, but also black, red and yellow-mouths to fill a cooler. Capt. Brad Hickman can be reach...

Turtle report: Nest predators appear this week, snacking on eggs

BY ARLENE HALLBGSTA SECRETARY At long last, the first green sea turtle crawl was documented on Gasparilla Island during the week ending June 22nd! It turned out to be a nest and it occurred on...

SW Florida Fishing: Minor delay … back to fishing

BY CAPT. WILL WATERHOUSE The rain and wind the past few weeks have limited the tarpon fishing, but it’s looking like the weather is going to settle down and we will be able to get back out in the...

Turtle report: Downpours and lightning do not deter volunteers

BY ARLENE HALLBGSTA SECRETARY The rainy weather system of the past week had some impact on the BGSTA’s turtle patrol activities as well as on established nests. Most mornings, the BGSTA volunteers...

‘Howl’ organizers say good day Irene

Second was Outta Line; last fish was goodnight with Irene, too BY BETSY FUGATE JOINER,PRESIDENT, GASPARILLA ISLAND MARITIME MUSEUM The Gasparilla Island Maritime Museum hosted the “Ladies Howl...

SW Florida Fishing: Rain delay … then back to fishing

BY CAPT. SANDY MELVIN A tropical low weather system moved over us this week bringing some much needed rain in abundance, but it has also put a damper on our tarpon fishing for a few days. When...

Turtle report: Fancy stakes for turtle adoption

BY ARLENE HALLBGSTA SECRETARY A stroll down the beaches from around 19th Street south to the parking lot by the state park will reveal some brightly colored stakes being used to protect incubating...