Elusive Tiger Shad, Let's Go Fishin' take top spots at Ladies Day 2013 Friday, 17 May 2013 10:31 BY MARCY SHORTUSE - The bite may have been slow, but Capt. Chris Frohlich’s team got the first qualified release in the 2013 Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament at 5:40 p.m. on Saturday. Anglers included Alysha Aratari, Olivia Britto, Joellen Morris and Mia Benton. Read the Full Story

FWC break-away jig study refuted by originating scientist Friday, 17 May 2013 10:06 BY MARCY SHORTUSE - In the summer of 2004 Dr. Justin Grubich picked up the phone to take a call from a woman who said she was with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The woman, Kathy Guindon, talked with Justin for about 30 minutes foul-hooking tarpon, and he was asked to provide expert witness testimony on how tarpon feed. He didn’t give the conversation much thought. Read the Full Story

World’s Richest, tarpon festival, Kids Classic coming up this week Friday, 17 May 2013 10:00 This week will bring one of the most action-packed and entertaining times that Boca Grande has seen in quite awhile. It is the World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament on May 23 and 24, the Gasparilla Island Kids Classic on May 25, and Tarpon Festival Weekend downtown. Read the Full Story

GIBA signs $30 million loan agreement, no new toll increases coming in the near future Friday, 17 May 2013 09:57 BY LIZA STROUT - With a unanimous vote, the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority board of directors approved the terms of a long-sought State Infrastructure Bank loan. The loan, to fund the construction of the new swing bridge, will keep tolls at their current levels for the foreseeable future. Read the Full Story

A lighthouse legend passes Friday, 17 May 2013 09:53 BY LIZA STROUT - Dian McKeithan Miller, youngest daughter of the last keeper of the Port Boca Grande Light, passed away Wednesday morning, May 15. Read the Full Story

Look for changes within the Community Center this summer Friday, 17 May 2013 09:52 BY MARCY SHORTUSE - The summer has come, the snowbirds are leaving and it’s time for the Boca Grande Community Center to start making some changes. They have tented for termites (and found a few bodies after the fact, so it was a worthy cause). Now they’re going to be tearing down some walls and moving things around. Read the Full Story

Letter to the Editor: World-renowned scientist makes changes to his conclusions about break-away jigs Friday, 17 May 2013 09:37 The following letter was sent to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Chairman Ken Wright on May 8, 2013. This letter is reprinted here with Mr. Grubich’s consent. Read the Full Story

Profile: Capt. Chris Frohlich Friday, 17 May 2013 09:31 BY JACK SHORT - Tarpon fishing seems to fascinate some folks in a way no other subject can. Capt. Chris Frohlich is one of those people, and his connection to the sport is as strong as his opinions about it. Read the Full Story

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Elusive Tiger Shad, Let's Go Fishin' take top spots at Ladies Day 2013
BY MARCY SHORTUSE - The bite may have been slow, but Capt. Chris Frohlich’s team got the first qualified...
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Commentary: Turf war, snagging tarpon and a crash course in etiquette

13 July 2012 Last Updated on 13 July 2012 Marcy Shortuse

BY CAPT. TOM McLAUGHLIN - There is some truth behind the talk that the Save the Tarpon movement is simply a turf war. Which side of the pro-jig/anti-jig movement you fall on has some correlation with where your turf is. A vast majority of the jig guides and PTTS participants come to town for the months of May and June, and once the tarpon head offshore to spawn, that same majority return home to either continue fishing in their home waters or pursue other occupations. They have very little tie to the local community during the rest of the year.

The notion that the fight over Boca Grande Pass tarpon fishing is about a group of traditional Pass fishing guides wanting to stop all others from fishing in their “private fishing hole” is the battle cry of most who oppose the Save The Tarpon movement. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is a turf war, but not in the way so frequently described by participants of the Professional Tarpon Tournament Series and board members of the Florida Guides Association.

( 4 Votes )

Beacon brings home awards

13 July 2012 Marcy Shortuse

The Florida Press Association held its annual Better Weekly Newspaper Contest awards ceremony on July 7 in Destin, Fla.

The Boca Beacon crew were nominated for seven categories and received eight prizes.

( 0 Votes )

Chamber director to host new local business radio show

13 July 2012 Last Updated on 13 July 2012 Marcy Shortuse

Tune in to WENG on Fridays at 4 p.m. beginning in August and you’ll hear a familiar voice piped into your ear. Beginning August 1 it’s going to be Lew Hastings, the Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce executive director.

Putting on yet another hat, Lew will be providing exposure to area businesses in a show called “Gulf Coast Business Spotlight.” The show will be an hour long, and will feature two businesses each week. This week, just prior to going on the air, he’s been sifting through music and looking for theme music.

( 0 Votes )

2013 may yield more Fourth of July fun

13 July 2012 Marcy Shortuse

Boca Grande residents have always made due with their Fourth of July plans and fireworks, but next year may be different.

At their last meeting on Tuesday, July 10, the Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce discussed the possibility of holding an island Fourth of July celebration next year, including fireworks and a barbecue.

A possible location discussed was South Beach, and a possible date was July 3. That way there would be no interference with other local fireworks displays, and those who came to the party wouldn’t have to go to work the next day.

The board also discussed other dates for next year. The World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament weekend will be held on May 23 and 24, and the Tarpon Festival will be held on May 25. Ladies Day will be held on Mother’s Day, May 11, because good tides will prevail once again on that maternal day.

( 0 Votes )

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Obituary: Margaret Twomey Jones

13 July 2012 Last Updated on 13 July 2012 Marcy Shortuse

Margaret (“Peggy”) Twomey Jones, of Boca Grande and Chatham, Mass., passed away on July 7, 2012 of cancer at her home in Chatham, surrounded by her family.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 61 years, W. Richard (Dick) Jones; her children, Jane Elizabeth Jones (Stan Cygelman) of Winchester, Mass., Susan Patricia Jones of East Harwich, Mass., and Richard Jones (Anne) of Louisville, Ky.; her grandchildren, Kate, Alex and Charlie Rush, Jackie Cygelman, and Rye and Henry Jones; her sisters, Joan Ivers (Jack) of Chappaqua, N.Y., Eileen Twomey of Chatham, Mass.; and her brother, Michael Twomey (Maria) of Boise, Idaho; as well as four nieces, two nephews and numerous cousins.