PINE ISLAND - OUR ISLAND WHAT WAS IT? Settled by a major indian tribe in 700 BC that was driven to extinction by Spanish lances, swords and diseases during the 1500 and 1600's;
a haven for pirates in the 1700's;
a major commercial fishing area into the late 1990's. WHAT IS IT? Relaxing old-Florida;
sub-tropical with cool breezes and one-of-a-kind sunsets (and rises);
the last undiscovered secret in Florida; and
one of the finest fishing areas in the entire State of Florida. PINE ISLAND  Our seventeen mile long island is the largest island on Florida's west coast, and is probably one of Florida's last "undiscovered" secrets. It rests on the southern shore of Charlotte Harbor in Southwest Florida, with Pine Island Sound to the west and Matlacha Pass to the east. The barrier islands of Sanibel, Captiva, North Captiva and Cayo Costa provide protection from the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Even after getting electricity in 1941, and its subsequent "discovery" in the 1970's, Pine Island has retained its "old Florida" charm. No high-rises or major resorts, just local communities serving people from all walks of life. Bokeelia at the northern end, Pineland on the west coast, St. James City on the southern end, and the island's portal at Matlacha provide boating access to one of the greatest fishing areas in the State of Florida. Boca Grande Pass, the Tarpon Capital of the World, is a 15 minute boat ride from Bokeelia. (See We Just Love This Island) Pine Island was probably settled by the Calusa Indians as early as 700 BC, and they controlled the shoreline from Tampa to the Keys until the arrival of the Spanish in the early 1500's. By the early 1700's the Calusa nation was all but extinct as they lost wars to the Spanish, and died off due to Small Pox and other "foreign" diseases. Today, Pine Island has the only intact Calusa Indian shell mounds, and the "dig" at the Randall Reservation is open to the public. In the 1700's and early 1800's Charlotte Harbor, and its many secluded and hard to reach islands, gave sanctuary to many of the day's pirates, including the infamous Gasparilla. While Gasparilla lived in the area now bearing his name, some of the more robust and lively crew members were "asked" to find other arrangements. This group is believed to have "partied on" on the northern end of Pine Island. Following a wild start by the Gasparilla gang, Pine Island welcomed calmer settlers in the late 1800's, and many began an expanding commercial fishing industry that lasted well into the 1990's. While commercial fishing still exists on Pine Island it has been severely curtailed by recently enacted Florida net ban laws. Visit the Museum of the Islands in Pine Island Center for a glimpse of our past. The island has also become the home for many tropical nurseries and palm groves, and we host a yearly Mango Festival.
Today's visitors still enjoy a relaxing old-Florida lifestyle.
Here are some other sites which offer additional information on our lovely area:
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