Boca Grande, Florida Beach
Boating Destination: Boat to Boca Grande Island Florida
Boca Grande is a small island community on Gasparilla Island on Florida’s southwest Gulf coast about 30 miles west of Fort Myers and just north of Captiva Island.
World-class tarpon fishing is what makes Boca Grande so special. As a matter of fact, Boca Grande is known as the Tarpon Capital of the world, and it surely is. Boca Grande Pass is located at the south end of Gasparilla Island, and is one of the deepest natural inlets on the Gulf of Mexico.
Each year, tens of thousands of tarpon congregate in the pass and harbor from April to August to feed on the very healthy crab and shrimp populations as the “Silver Kings” prepare for their long swim offshore to spawn.
Boca Grande has beautiful white sugar-sand beaches and the downtown is small and very sweet. Most islanders and visitors travel by golf cart and while there are fabulous homes, some of the most special are the historic old Florida cottages located in the downtown area.
There are a few places to stay on the island and I have included them below. While I cannot mention everyone, I have listed a fair many from which to choose.
My ideal trip is to arrive by boat and stay at either the Inlets or the historic Gasparilla Inn. I love having cocktails at the Inn and then hopping in the golf cart and heading to the Temptation for dinner.
After a morning of fishing, lunch at the Boca Grande Marina makes a nice break. And I always walk over to Whidden’s Marina to say hi and check out what one of the few remaining “old Florida” marinas looks like.
One more interesting fact is that Boca Grande was the backdrop for Denzel Washington’s movie, Out of Time, where the quiet village was re-named “Banyan Key” in reference to the banyan trees that populate the island.
Stay
Inlets on The Waterfront
1251 12th Street East
Boca Grande, FL 33921 (941) 964-4600
Gasparilla Inn
500 Palm Ave
Boca Grande, FL 33921 (941) 964-4500
Come by Boat – Dock & Dine
The Boca Grande Marina (formally known as Miller’s Marina)
Eagle Grille & Miller’s Dockside Bar & Grille
Lunch & Dinner
20 Harbor Drive
Boca Grande, FL 33921
Dock Office Phone: (941) 964-2100
Restaurants (941) 964- 8000
On-Island Eating
The Boca Bistro
World Class Dining
5800 Gasparilla rd.
Boca Grande, FL 33921 (941) 964-8020
Temptation Boca Grande
350 Park Avenue
Boca Grande, FL 33921
(941) 964-2610
The Pink Elephant
491 Bayou Street
Boca Grande, FL 33921 (941) 964-0100
Loons On A Limb
10 East Railroad Avenue,
Boca Grande, FL 33921 (941) 964-0155
Boca Grande Baking Co.
84 East Railroad Avenue
Boca Grande, FL 3392 (941) 964-5818
Hudson’s Grocery
417 Park Avenue
Boca Grande, FL 33921
(941) 964-2621
Article by LucyLu
I was born a commercial fisherman's daughter in Cortez, an old fishing village off the west coast of Florida where you can still experience "Old Florida" and get a really good grouper sandwich. I went to school and became an anesthetist, after privileged years of practice, I jumped ship to work in the family business - Cannons Marina. I love my job and the view. I am crazy about my dog. Being out on the water is magical. I still get giddy every time I see a dolphin. Often I brag that I had the opportunity to swim alongside a humpback whale - it was freaky and pretty amazing. Fishing for tarpon and marlin make me happy. My life is no doubt boating, but I also love paddle-boarding cooking and travel.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Excellent article Lucy. And the picture is beautiful, capturing the spirit of Boca Grande. Truly one of the jewels of the West Coast of Florida and the closest you get to a “Keys like” experience without traveling all the way south.
Thanks for sharing with us.
Thanks Mike! Boca Grande is a Florida jewel.
Take care-
Lucy