Written by VAN HUBBARD on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
I’ve always been concerned about preserving our fisheries, their heritage, our traditions and the ways of the watermen that live from them. My grandparents, especially Guy Lewis, instilled the importance of taking care of what takes care of you. Take the long-term approach caring for our way of life, enjoyments and waters. Preserve things that […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, Editorial.
Currently, the Boca Beacon is digesting hundreds of pages of correspondence between Lee County and Boca Grande as part of a public records request. On June 4, we filed and paid for a record of any recent email or text correspondence that contain the keywords “Boca Grande” or “Gasparilla Island” between all county commissioners, county […]
Written by VAN HUBBARD on . Posted in Columns, Community History, Featured News, Sports & Outdoors.
Somewhere in the intense mid- ‘80s, I took videographer Gary Sullivan tarpon fishing. It was 1985 when I met Gary, aka Sully, when he came along on a trip. He was in the production business and, awed by our exciting, amazing tarpon fishing, said we should make a TV show. This opened a new chapter […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Entertainment, Events, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Although beachside fireworks shows are entertaining to people, the bursts of color and noise wreak havoc on coastal birds — especially for nesting species. After each fireworks explosion, birds panic and fly from their nests, scattering the chicks and exposing them to predators and heat until their parents return. For this reason, it is better […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History, Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Lee County has hired Certified Arborist Rick Joyce for a survey of the health of the Banyan Street banyan trees. The Lee County Department of Transportation anticipates having a full report on the street by mid-summer, according to Lee County Communications Director Betsy Clayton. Joyce has a long experience on Gasparilla Island and has an […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, Editorial.
When people get worked up and annoyed about the issues of parking in Boca Grande, one concept that comes up, over and over again, is consistency in application. Fairness. The emblem of this issue is the peculiar Boca Grande iteration, the curb lawn. The “curb lawn” is a fancy way of putting things in the […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Featured News, News.
The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins on June 1 and runs until Nov. 30 with the historical peak of activity occurring in September. The Florida Division of Emergency Management urges all Floridians to have preparations in place for their personal and family needs in the event a storm threatens their community. This year, two disaster […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
The Lee Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday, June 4 voted to approve an amendment to an agreement with the City of Bonita Springs to expand the scope of Bonita Beach nourishment efforts south to the County line. The expanded scope is necessary due to damage caused by Hurricane Ian in September 2022. The northern […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
The 2024 World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament concluded last night in Boca Grande. Overall, there were 133 tarpon caught on both days, 56 on the first day and 77 on the second. The winner, with 13 tarpon for first place, was Hey, Moma with a $39,000 prize. On the boat angling with Capt. Wayne Joiner were […]
Written by VAN HUBBARD on . Posted in Columns, Featured News, Sports & Outdoors.
BY CAPT. VAN HUBBARD Tarpon were so abundant that big game sportfishing was created here. The giant fish splashing and jumping everywhere, driving fishermen crazy. Teasing spectators because we lacked the tackle to subdue them. On March 14 of 1885, William Woods landed a 93-pound tarpon in Tarpon Bay, the first recorded catch of big […]