First, catch your tarpon. And make sure you’ve got the right equipment, because these silvery giants of the deep fight and leap high into the air when hooked. Who knows if this is a world record because… well, we all know the world of fishing speaks for itself. But a 250-pound monster nearly dragged one guy off his boat out there on the salty waves of YouTube.
The tarpon capital of the world is in Florida. The little village of Boca Grande sits on the seven-mile-long Gasparilla Island, one of the barrier islands on the west coast about 100 miles south of Tampa, ringed by white sand beaches. People the world over throng here in spring for rod-and-reel duels that can last half an hour at least. Tarpon are prized game fish, so no recipe is required. Catch, weigh, photograph, release.
Boat-Friendly Boca Grande
To live in Boca Grande (not to be confused with Boca Raton, the resort on Florida’s east coast) is to be on the water. That sounds easy on an island, but some properties are more boat-friendly than others. And that matters.
Case in point: a home for sale on a fingertip of land in Boca Grande Isles, a private neighborhood with just 127 large and contemporary homes, is now on the market for $10,975,000. The five-bedroom home faces open water deep enough to dock large boats and yachts—a rarity in the community where most properties face shallower channels.
“The seller was waiting for one of those tip lots to come up because it’s exactly what they wanted, and the lots don’t come up that often,” says selling agent Carol Stewart of Florida brokerage Michael Saunders & Company. Properties in the gated community on the east of the island command eight figures. Almost all are second seasonal homes for those escaping cold winters farther north.
Tight Lines, Clean Lines
The property, built in 2011, captures sunrise and sunset views of Charlotte Harbor to the east and the natural landscape of Gasparilla Inn Golf Course to the south. It was designed by Sarasota-based architect George Palermo, known for his clean lines and light-filled spaces in his work.
The two-story residence at 1600 John Lafitte Drive (yes, streets here are named for pirates, real and fictional) resembles a modern take on Old Florida homes, a style sometimes called coastal contemporary. The oversized wood entryway and metal roof suggest a hint of the downtown historic buildings 10 minutes away.
Inside, details like custom door trim and crown mouldings add elegant touches to the living and family rooms throughout the home. Large windows give views of the water.
The main-level primary suite overlooks the channel and includes a small office, plus a room for a den or workout area. Upstairs, four en-suite bedrooms are linked by stairways or an elevator. A large open patio on the main level and a glassed-in balcony on the upper open over the pool and the waterfront. It’s the latter that may hook potential buyers seduced by a 50-foot dock and a boat lift.
Beyond The Sea
While manatees hang out in the water and white pelicans circle above—and sport-fishing, kayaking, or boating or sailing to Cayo Costa State Park beckon—visitors and locals flock to the main village of Boca Grande for dining and shopping.
The village has slow-paced Old Florida appeal, where golf carts and bicycles are the favored means of transportation, where historic buildings line the downtown area, where Miami-style high-rises are barred by law. The Boca Grande Bike Path follows an old railroad bed to the beaches and historic downtown.
Gasparilla Island has about 1,000 residents year-round. That balloons to three or four times as many during the high-season winter months. Then, from April to August, is when the thousands of tarpons come in. Followed by the fisherfolk who follow them.
Michael Saunders and Company is a member of Forbes Global Properties, an invitation-only network of top-tier brokerages worldwide and the exclusive real estate partner of Forbes.