Boca Beacon Timeline for the week of June 3, 2022

FIVE YEARS AGO

World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament concluded as Hey, Moma! with Capt. Wayne Joiner and his team took first place, with Capt. Charlie Coleman in second. Fishing was reduced to one day due to predicted rough weather in the Pass for day one. 

TEN YEARS AGO

The Boca Grande Causeway south bridge saw its final traffic after 54 years of service. The temporary bridge was in place and planned to be connected to the causeway.

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO

Love bugs arrived in full force. The Island School’s board of directors issued a challenge to the community as board members pledged to match new gifts toward completion of the school’s new building.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

Hollywood descended on the town as 30 crew members representing MGM’s movie Out of Time, which would be partly shot in Boca Grande. A Boca Bay home was burglarized, and an 18-year-old Boca Grande man was charged. 

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Angler Ted Wallace, fishing with Capt. Kenny Anderson aboard Paul Eckel’s Magic, caught the only two fish and won both first and second places in the first 1997 Hollinswood Tarpon tournament.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

After years of fighting for a dock of its own, the Boca Grande Fishing Guides Association voted in favor of accepting five boat slips offered by The Gasparilla Inn at the Pink Elephant dock on Fifth Street …   provided stipulations were met. 

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Local students were honored at Lemon Bay High School’s Senior Awards Night as Boca Grande Chamber President Mark Shevitski awarded $600 each to Scott Busby, Kim Coughlin, Lee Witkowski and Stephanie Wheeler.