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IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Boca Grande – for many, it’s a way of life, not a location

Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Opinion, Profiles.

When we built a house a few years later, we thought ourselves the luckiest people alive. Oh, to be able to plan a few months each winter in Boca Grande! But even then, smitten as we were with Boca Grande, we had not a clue how it would become so much more than just a winter island respite from the snow-slushy north. Boca Grande began for us as a winter escape, not a “destination.” Then it absorbed us. Over the past 20+ years, we were submersed into a community of wonderfully involved, interesting and interested people, fabulously close friends. Unlike other of Florida seashore locales, Boca Grande was not a beach, a resort. It was a life.

Blaze jumps to first place … and ‘The Buckle’

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.

There’s a brand new diet that’s taking Boca Grande Pass by storm … It’s called “Wear the Weight of Waylon’s Buckles,” and it isn’t for beginners. When Capt. Waylon Mills’ son Owen successfully caught and released the winning tarpon in the 2022 Red Gill Tarpon Tournament that was held last Sunday, May 29, he cinched his dad’s title as the winner of the Jay Joiner Memorial Belt Buckle for the season.

TURTLE TRACKS: Beach obstructions deadly for our sea turtles

Written by Tonya Bramlage on . Posted in News.

Gasparilla Island sea turtles have other issues to overcome in addition to predation. Beachgoers pose a unique and specific threat to sea turtles by leaving assorted items behind. When a turtle patroller sees something such as an abandoned umbrella or an unattended chair, the item is then tagged with a note letting the owner know […]

Boca Beacon Timeline for the week of June 3, 2022

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Boca Beacon Back Pages.

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 […]

Sabalo takes Ladies Nite Out

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.

“The executive tournament team of Kacy Cheske, Ashley Scarpa and Robin Hollins could hardly catch a breath on land, keeping the releases and times recorded and announced on the radio,” said Tournament Director Betsy Joiner. “Thank you, ladies, for making it all happen on paper as the rest of us reeled and screamed! Kacy was the most professional sportscaster and tournament director, losing her voice at the end, but never missing a beat!”

Just days away from hurricane season: Are you ready for a big year?

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.

The hurricane hangtag program includes a four-zone system. Your zone will be printed on your hangtag to better track where one should be and to allow for phased re-entry, if warranted. Limited access at the time of return could be delayed due to any ongoing response and/or recovery efforts in Boca Grande.

Turtle tracks: Looking out for predators on our beaches 

Written by Tonya Bramlage on . Posted in News.

Examining tracks is one indicator that help patrollers attempt to identify a possible predation, but the real challenge is determining the original predatory culprit. Once a nest has been disturbed in any way, the presence of the vulnerable eggs is inadvertently announced through scent to nearby predators.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Some of the most legendary captains in Boca Grande Pass

Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Community History, News.

It is fitting that we pay tribute to historical guides as a celebration of their lives in the context of the fishing heritage of Boca Grande. Cappy Joiner, president of the Boca Grande Fishing Guides Association, has provided a list of representative historical guides. We admire their unique skills, impressive fortitude and commitment to fishing in the menace of increasing competition and an adversely impacted environment. As Captain Joiner points out, they must master boating and navigation skills, possess specialized knowledge of the weather, the environment, fish identification and their individual peculiarities, likes and dislikes, be able to read the water by the swim patterns on the surface, know about tackle and about seasonal behavior and natural habitats of the fish. Thoughts on guiding by contemporary guides follow.