Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: I am an avid reader of the Beacon and enjoy the style and breadth of topics covered. I look forward to its arrival each week. I also live in Boca Grande and in the Lee County portion. I appreciate the parking debate both from the perspective of access but also from the […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: Boca Grande Art On Park Avenue was a great success this past weekend and I wanted to thank everyone for coming out and showing your support for original art and the fine artists who create it. Downtown Boca Grande was transformed into an open-air fine art gallery for the weekend, and we […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO Many residents responding to a National Register of Historic Places proposal were against the inclusion even before the public meeting. Residents were against attracting more visitors to the island. TEN YEARS AGO Boca Bargains held a fashion show at The Gasparilla Inn & Club with over 170 guests attending. FIFTEEN YEARS AGO […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, News.
Congratulations to internationally accredited artist Carol Hall, whose pastel painting On the Run earned the First Place Award of Excellence at the Pastel Society of Tampa Bay’s exhibition, “Possibilities in Pastel.” Carol is an Exhibiting Member and Workshop Instructor at the Boca Grande Art Center. The show runs through March 2 at the Sterling Gallery […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
BY CAPT. WILL WATERHOUSE In between fronts this week, the fishing was great. As water temperatures began to rebound from the low 50s to the 70s, the fish were active and looking to feed. Lots of nice big redfish have been caught in live bait and artificial. We are also seeing the snook showing up […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
BY CAPT. JOE LECLAIR It’s a sad day here in Boca Grande for fisherman like me who have enjoyed wading the shoreline looking for snook, reds, trout, pompano, sheepshead, cobia, tripletail, etc. The days of quietly walking along the shoreline in search of good fishing has become significantly restricted to residents only in many of […]
Written by VAN HUBBARD on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
The Lemon Bay Girls Beach Volleyball team sponsored the “Catch a Convict” sheepshead tournament as a fundraiser. Cape Haze Marina hosted the event. The weather and fish cooperated, with plenty of thieving convicts, sheepshead, in attendance. The event was held Feb. 21. They enjoyed a strong turnout and raised more than $13,000 to support the […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
The Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce has introduced the first annual Gasparilla Grande Slam Back Bay Fishing Tournament, to be held on March 28. This inshore fishing event celebrates competitive angling, sportsmanship and coastal heritage targeting redfish, snook and speckled trout. On Saturday, March 28, lines will be in from 9 a.m. to 1 […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Education, News, Sports & Outdoors.
BY THE ISLAND SCHOOL FOUNDATION The Island School Foundation’s chairperson, Mary Johnston, summed up the day: “Conditions couldn’t have been much worse, but our community came out with their best!” The Island School, a tuition-free charter school for grades K-5, held their $1,000,000 Golf Challenge last week on a chilly, windy winter day at The […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
The Boca Beacon’s 2026 Gasparilla Island Tennis Classic opened on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026 and finished on Tuesday, Feb. 10. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our incredible community for supporting this year’s Gasparilla Island Tennis Classic. It’s been truly inspiring to see players step out of their comfort zones, challenge themselves […]