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Opinion

SW Florida Fishing: Fish and … birds?

April 9, 2026
BY CAPT. JOE LECLAIR Over the last few weeks, loads and loads of people have come to paradise hoping for warmer weather and excited to go fishing. My job is simple, fulfilling everyone’s dreams o…

EcoWatch: The Endangered Species Act is safe for now

April 9, 2026
We all have a responsibility to protect endangered species, both for their sake and for the sake of our own future generations. Loretta Lynch, a former U.S. Attorney General, in a widely attribut…

Letters: Open Shores shares first info on parking survey

April 2, 2026
To the Editor: I wanted to share data from three reports documenting conditions on Gasparilla Island since Lee County Ordinance 25-16 took effect.  The first data is from a community surv…

OPINION: Managing acres, habitat and community assets like the Bike Path

April 2, 2026
BY THE GASPARILLA ISLAND CONSERVATION AND IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION Imagine Boca Grande today without the GICIA. There would be no Bike Path for residents and visitors to enjoy, no Land Conservancy…

Back to Moon on a Full Moon for Artemis II

April 2, 2026
The families begin gathering on the Bayou Bridge at around 6 p.m. A small crowd grows larger as the countdown continues to an expected launch time of 6:24 p.m. for Artemis II. Florida. She almost…

EcoWatch: Crows, Hymns and a changing world

April 2, 2026
Last year EcoWatch’s Easter column, “Hallelujahs and OMGs,” featured environmental problems that were strangling the environment. Now, looking back on the problems listed, it was no surprise that th…

SW Florida Fishing: The BIG fish are biting …

April 2, 2026
Besides this regular size flounder caught by Swifty Morris, next has Jeff Koziol with a big bronze redfish and William Alexander with a big one too. Second row has John Wallace caught and release…

History: No pirates, no gold, but lots of bugs in the selling of Gasparilla

March 26, 2026
Above, The Charlotte Harbor & Northern Railway used a bloody pirate as their main brochure for the island in its early days. Boca Grande Historical Society Archives BY JIM BLAHA, BOCA GRANDE…

Van Hubbard: Mackerel, both Spanish and king, best in icy coolers

March 26, 2026
March leads us into our spring season. We did enjoy some spring-like weather last month, but each one should be weaker now. Spring has officially arrived, and I’m excited about all the fishing optio…

Letters: Spring Show a special event

March 26, 2026
Dear Editor: The Boca Grande Art Center and the Boca Grande Garden Club were delighted to come together once again to present our annual March Spring Show to the community. This year was especial…