Another Hurricane Ian comeback win: Bokeelia Pier open to fishing, sunsets again

Fort Myers News-Press

With every reopening that takes place after Hurricane Ian — now 10 months ago — it feels like another piece of a giant puzzle, with pieces scattered all over the place, is starting to look like something we can recognize again.

Another piece of that puzzle snapped into place on Monday morning when the popular fishing pier in Bokeelia on Pine Island, with its iconic dolphins adorning the gates, opened for the first time since Hurricane Ian chewed it up on Sept. 28, 2022.

The 119-year-old pier opened at 7 a.m., eight minutes after sunrise. About 20-25 people had their fishing lines dangling off the pier in Pine Island Sound. It wasn't too long after when someone pulled in a small snook, marking the official rechristening of the pier.

Getting the pier functional again required patience and perseverance, said Dennis Borcky, who is the owner and operator of the pier along with his business partner.

Greg Valentine tries his luck on the Bokeelia Fishing Pier on the north end of Pine Island on Monday, July 31, 2023. The pier opened Monday after it was closed due to Hurricane Ian crushing Southwest Florida. He has been fishing the pier for 30+ years. He says its a happy place for a lot of people. He is one of the regulars who shows up.

"Half of the pier was destroyed and needed to be reconstructed. I had no idea it would take this long," Borcky said. "The repair itself did not take long. The biggest hurdle post hurricane was retrieving materials and awaiting permitting."

The gate also had to be retrieved, having been blown away and ending up in the sound. A local diver was able to locate it late last year.

It was likely the biggest hurdle to overcome, along with the overall cost of restoring the entire pier, which Borky said was $150,000.

"I had to make a homemade raft to be able to hoist the gates on then drag the raft to the shore line," Borcky said. "Then we sent it out on a truck to get the barnacles removed, repaired, and refinished."

Ashlyn Florian shows off her catch at the Bokeelia Fishing Pier on the north end of Pine Island on Monday, July 31, 2023. The pier opened Monday after it was closed due to Hurricane Ian crushing Southwest Florida.

On Monday it looked as if nothing had happened to it as visitors passed through on their way to the end of the pier to fish or admire the view north across the sound. The pier, which is across from Capt'n Con's Fish House, is a popular place to catch a sunrise or a sunset along with fish.

Borcky said around 15-25,000 people a year would come visit the pier for paid fishing, and he estimated "we’ll over 100,000 people" would come out in front the gates to relax and enjoy the view.

The fact that even one person could enjoy the pier again on Monday was good enough for Borcky.

"We are happy to be able to bring one more thing back to normal after such a devastating storm," he said. "The pier is an iconic part of the community, and we are very proud to be able to restore and manage it for everyone to enjoy."

If you go

WHAT: Bokeelia Fishing Pier

WHERE: 8421 Main Street, Bokeelia (Pine Island)

COST: Entrance fee is $15 per person

HOURS: Open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. Open Thursdays 7 a.m. to midnight

PRIVATE RENTALS AVAILABLE: Friday to Wednesday, 7 p.m. to midnight for up to 10 people. Reservations required for private rentals. For reservations call 239-283-2244