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Sports & Outdoors


2021 Lee County Parks & Recreation Turkey Hoop Shoot

November 26, 2021
Photos by Dusty and Cheryl Sponsored by Lee County Parks & Recreation and the Boca Beacon

This weekend the hoops, next week the GIFT

November 20, 2021
On Saturday, Nov. 20 you can show off your hoop-shooting prowess at the annual Turkey Hoop Shoot, sponsored by Lee County Parks and Recreation and the Boca Beacon. The action begins at 10 a.m. …

GIFT Tournament set for November 23

November 12, 2021
Another island tradition is coming up, and if you’re a fly fisherman who loves to fish for redfish you won’t want to miss this one. On Tuesday, Nov. 23 the 26th annual Gasparilla Island Flyfish…

Winners! Manta Rays keeping the drama on the volleyball court, with the help of an island girl

October 28, 2021
Lemon Bay’s girls’ varsity volleyball team, the Manta Rays are on a winning streak and they’re determined to keep it going all the way to the state championship. On Tuesday night, the Manta Ray…

If we build it, will they come? The future Rookery at Wildflower Preserve

October 22, 2021
The Lemon Bay Conservancy and partners are proud to announce that after a decade of hard work, committed partnerships, a vast amount of volunteer hours and dedication to vision, they successfully …

Friends of Cayo Costa to host Cayo Costa Day November 6

October 22, 2021
Celebrate Cayo Costa! Will be held at the Island State Park on Saturday, Nov. 6 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Affordable all-inclusive tickets feature round trip boat transportation from three departur…

To DEET or not to DEET … that is the question

October 1, 2021
Developed by the U.S. Army in 1946, DEET is a synthetic chemical that provides one to six hours of total protection against mosquitoes. DEET has been used by hundreds of millions of people with an…

The ‘do’s’ and ‘don’t’ of spearfishing around Gasparilla Island

September 10, 2021
Just before our most recent bout of red tide the Boca Beacon received reports of several individuals spearfishing at the end of Belcher Road and in other locations around the south end, and two of…

Fred was a dud, Grace got lost … what’s next?

August 20, 2021
While Fred came and went with a whimper, and Tropical Storm Grace turned into Hurricane Grace but decided to visit Mexico, Gasparilla Island has received more rain from afternoon thunderstorms tha…

Storm season is right for kite surfing Gasparilla Sound

August 20, 2021
Tami and Ralph Bellon kite together in Gasparilla Sound locally but the couple travels literally to where the wind takes them. “We love all the diverse walks of life that kitesurfing appeals to. W…