Cortez, FL

One of the great things about launching the boat at Bradenton Beach, as mentioned last blog, is some of the territory it makes available. And one of the coolest destinations is the fishing village of Cortez, just a mile to the north.

Fishing was the center of Cortez for 130+ years, not counting many hundreds of years that Native Americans probably fished there. And there were dozens of villages like Cortez all around Florida before regulation, overfishing, and waterfront development pressure squeezed them all out.

Somehow Cortez has hung on (read more about Cortez here) and not been paved over or overshadowed by high-rise condos. There are several restaurants on the waterfront, a marina, a boatyard, and yes, still some commercial fishing boats.

Here, sun sets over some of the fleet.

Fishing shacks like this used to be all over. When nets were made of cotton, they had to be properly spread-out, dried, repaired, and stored, and these shacks were where it was done. Modern nets are tougher and more rot resistant. But this shack right near Cortez has been preserved. (The sign says, "Boiled Peanuts.")

Cortez is a heckuva place -- and just a few minutes from our home in Sarasota!

Don't miss out on this year's Cortez Fishing Festival! It starts today at 10am.

The festival offers food, fresh seafood, vendors with arts and crafts, live music, plenty of activities for children including a marine life touch tank.

Admission is $2 and children under 12 are FREE!

For the first time this year, festival visitors will be able to tour the newly opened Florida Gulf Coast Maritime Museum at Cortez, located in the Historic 1912 Schoolhouse on 119th Street West.

Admission to the festival, located on the south side of Cortez Road at 123rd Street West, just east of the Cortez Bridge.

Off-site parking will be available at Sugg Middle School, 3801 59th St. W., and Cortez Beach, on the southern tip of Anna Maria Island. Shuttle bus service to the festival costs $2 for a round trip.

For more information, visit the festival website.