Sports & Outdoors
Turtle Report: Nest numbers up slightly on island; transport to Mote
September 3, 2026
So many factors in nature
Above, the “washback” covered in algae that was transported to Mote
As September begins, we near the end of sea turtle nesting season. For several weeks now, there…
Lunar Eclipse…
September 3, 2026
On August 27 at midnight Gasparilla Magazine Art Director Matt Gutman photographed this partial lunar eclipse with 96 percent coverage.
Fort Myers Beach Pier
September 3, 2026
Construction activity is progressing with major equipment now mobilized on site for the rebuilding of the Fort Myers Beach Pier, including a large crane. Crews are continuing preparations for demoli…
Snook: Born male, turned female
September 3, 2026
BY BARRIER ISLAND PARKS SOCIETY
Editor’s Note: This installment is the last of a six-week series on local wildlife provided by the Barrier Island Parks Society. These articles aim to foster comm…
Extremely rare ‘piebald’ lemon shark reported off Anna Maria
September 3, 2026
BY ERNIE VANDERWALT
A drone pilot flying the north tip of Anna Maria Island, Florida, has captured footage of a piebald lemon shark cruising the shallows off Bean Point, and two shark researchers…
SW Florida Fishing: Making my forever memories …
September 3, 2026
BY LUKE ALLEN
I was fishing deep in the water and boom a very white snook bit my bait – it was so hard my line broke off right after it got in the boat. Later that day I caught 14 more fish. It w…
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: A look at Florida’s consolidating, valuable marina industry
August 27, 2026
Above, the Little Harbor Marina in Ruskin, just south of Tampa. It was purchased in 2021 and is now advertised as a Suntex Experience. It has operated there since the 1950s. Photo by Garland
John…
Boca Grande Sea Turtle Nesting Season: 8-26-26
August 27, 2026
Weekly turtle reports
State Park Turtle Numbers
Cayo Costa: 531 Loggerhead, 25 Green, 2 Leatherback, 19,207 hatchlings
Gasparilla: 32 Loggerhead, 283 hatchlings
Don Pedro: 233 Loggerhe…
Birthday letter to Whidden’s. It’s Americana at its finest
August 27, 2026
One hundred years of Whidden’s. I’ve been lucky to be a small part of that time
BY JAKE POEPL
Where do I begin?
Whidden’s is a true treasure. It’s where I first stepped on a boat in Boca G…
A business incubator that gave this captain a start back in 1981
August 27, 2026
Whidden’s Marina has given more to our traditions and heritage than we can ever repay. It provided the home port for generations of guides and clients. It’s the center of our local fishing community…











