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SW Florida Fishing: Green at the tip!

BY CAPT. WILL WATERHOUSE It feels like summer here in Boca Grande and the tarpon have been biting! Lots of tarpon have been caught around Little Gasparilla Island, Gasparilla Island, Cayo Costa and Captiva Island! Book your trip to get out and chase the silver king if you haven’t already! In the back bay, snook […]

Patchwork of Policies: How Florida beach towns manage public access

BY MARCY SHORTUSE With a considerable population increase in Florida in the last five years, more and more Florida beach towns are being forced to consider what their options are as far as parking for their “destination” locations, specifically beaches and the more tourist-driven areas. It’s difficult to compare the situation in Boca Grande – […]

Bridge traffic down on Easter weekend

At the quarterly meeting of the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority, Executive Director Kathy Banson reported Wednesday, April 23 that traffic was down 8 percent this year, though there was a record day on March 19, when there were 5,635 vehicles in one day. Bridge openings are also down 33 percent, averaging about three a day. […]

Bridge begins major storm preparations

On Wednesday, the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority voted to harden the islands around its bridges and roadway to prevent further deterioration in the event of a future hurricane. “One thing the board takes very seriously is maintaining access to the island,” said George Milne, engineering chair for the authority. “We know where a lot of […]

Good news on our Bridge, but a busy summer ahead 

It is time we had some good news here on Gasparilla Island. This summer, the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority (GIBA) will embark on two major infrastructure projects – referred to as “hardening” efforts. The first will focus on fortifying their headquarters, and the second will enhance resilience on the islands of the Causeway itself. The […]

SW Florida Fishing: The spring winds…

BY CAPT. JOE LECLAIR I have spent many years fishing the Boca Grande backcountry in the springtime and unfortunately it usually includes wind, lots of wind. This spring is no different and it has become my new job to find places to hide from it and catch some fish. The difficulty that comes with flyfishing […]

BRIEFS: Bridge meeting; burn ban

Bridge meeting  The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority Board of Supervisors will be conducting a Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 1 p.m. in the GIBA administration building. Agenda topics include long-term cash flow projections.  The board will also be conducting a Quarterly Board Meeting on Wednesday April 23, 2025, at 1 p.m. […]

Southwest Florida Honor Flight: A veteran’s perspective here 

BY AMANDA MOCANU, SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT (E-8), USAF, RET On April 8, 2025, my husband Brandon and I were among over 100 southwest Florida veterans blessed to fly on Southwest Florida Honor Flight’s Mission XXII to Washington, D.C., to see the memorials. Brandon and I both served 20 years in the Air Force (‘92-‘12 and […]