Reopening planned for parking and canoe access at Boca Grande Fishing Pier

Charlotte County is working to reopen the parking lot and roadway at the Boca Grande Fishing Pier, which has been closed since Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

“We are repairing the parking lot and roadway as well as the erosion at the natural canoe/kayak launch. Both are anticipated to re-open in the next two weeks,” said Tina Powell, parks and natural resources manager for Charlotte County.

As of Wednesday, much of the entrance road had been filled in, and a series of trucks had been delivering fill Tuesday and Wednesday to regrade the roadbed.

In April, the Beacon reported that the county had been going through the FEMA Public Assistance Program for funds to repair all damaged park facilities. At that time, they believed that the design process for the piers will require state and federal permitting for the rebuilds, which can be a long process.

Currently closed are both sides of the old railroad tracks that led to Boca Grande.

Hurricane Debby in August 2024 caused severe erosion along the pier’s approach path. The pier briefly reopened on September 19, 2024, after Charlotte came in with fast stopgap repairs. But Hurricane Helene soon after caused even more erosion. Hurricane Milton in October 2024 worsened the damage.

There are four fishing piers that are part of the old rail line to Boca Grande; the only pier that is currently open is the Centennial pier over Coral Creek. In addition to Boca Grande fishing pier and Placida pier closures, the El Jobean pier was closed after a fire, well before the hurricanes.