2015 Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival

Cortez – The 33rd annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival is this Saturday and Sunday, February 14th-15th from 10:00am – 6:00pm. Art, music and seafood will bring scores of people to the historic Cortez fishing village and you won’t want to miss it!

Admission – $3.00 for Adults – Children 12 under free

To find Cortez Village on a map, locate Bradenton which is about 50 miles south of Tampa. Find State Road 684, known locally as Cortez Road or 44th Avenue, and go west to the beaches.

Remote Parking for the Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival

Every year there is a something new at the Festival. Festival goers will want to note that there is a remote parking area in west Bradenton. You can avoid the traffic and enjoy the bus ride with your friends to the Festival ($2.50 round trip). The new parking site is located at G. T. Bray Park (5502 33rd Ave. Dr. W., Bradenton, 34209). Just turn east off of 59th St. onto 33rd Ave. W. You can’t miss it.

As in past years, this same shuttle service is being provided from the remote parking area located at Coquina Beach on Anna Maria Island. Island folks can take the free trolley to the parking site.

Also, the parking area just east of the village off of Cortez Road has been expanded again this year. But get there early or later in the day as this parking area tends to fill up quickly. Parking spots open up later in the day.

Another option is to park in the western part of town. Many folks manage small parking areas throughout the village with some charging a fee depending on how close they are to the village.

The Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival is organized entirely by a volunteer committee of the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (F.I.S.H.), a Florida not-for-profit corporation.

Fishing, Boat Tours, Charter Tours Anna Maria Island!

Charter Tours Anna Maria Island are fun! There’s no better place to spend a day out fishing and/or boating than the crystal clear Gulf of Mexico!

Charter Tours Anna Maria Island

Grouper, Snapper, Sharks, Trigger Fish, Spanish Mackerel and many other species are found off Anna Maria Island depending on the season. The surrounding water around Anna Maria Island is a small boat fishers’ playground where you’ll find snook as well as red fish.

There are charter guides where you’ll be sure to catch a glimpse of a dolphin or a manatee! They will bring you around to the shallow parts of the waters to pick up shells, starfish and sand dollars! Some charters offer sunset sails, Egmont Key Expeditions, full moon sails, private charters, dolphin watching, etc. Some charters will also include some of the same amenities of home: A/C, head, galley, and soft drinks, along with rods, bait, ice, tackle, license, permits and instructions for new beginners, and will even clean your fish for you.

Here are just some, of many, places that offer fishing, boating & charters:

AMICharters Salt Water Adventures
Captain Scott
(941) 348-2035

Anna Maria Island Fishing Charters
P.O. Box 329 Anna Maria, FL 34216
(941) 778-4498

Captain Mike’s Charters
Kingfish Boat Ramp 752 Manatee Ave W. Holmes Beach, FL 34217
(941) 778-1404

Cortez Kat Party Boat Fishing Charters
12507 Cortez R.West, Cortez.
Bradenton, FL 34215
795-6969
(888) 844-4140

Galati Charter Fishing
900 South Bay Blvd Anna Maria, FL 34216
(941) 778-0755

Kathleen D. Charters
1000 1st Ave. W. Bradenton, FL 34205
(941) 870-4349

Rod and Reel Pier
875 North Shore Dr. Anna Maria, FL 34216
(941) 778-1885

Stray Dog Charters
12507 Cortez Road, West
794-5615

2014 Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival

Cortez – Just over the bridge from Anna Maria Island is the little town of Cortez. A fishing village to this day, it’s home to the Coast Guard, Starfish Food Co. and more. Once a year in February, this tiny piece of Florida history is home to the Cortez Fishing Festival.

Featuring great live music, nautical arts and crafts, children’s activities, environmental exhibits, more seafood than imaginable and, of course, beer, the Cortez Fishing Festival is an event unlike few others in Manatee County. Admission is $3 at the door , children 12 and under are free.

Music Schedule

Saturday February 15th

10:00 – 10:20 am: Shanty Singers
10:45 – 12:00 pm: Passerine
12:00 – 12:15 pm: Awards and Introductions
12:30 – 2:00 pm: Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones
2:30 – 4:00 pm: Eric von Hahmann
4:30 – 6:00 pm: Razing Cane

Sunday February 16th

10:30 – 12:00 am: Soupy Davis and his Band
12:30 – 2:00 pm: Eric von Hahmann
2:30 – 4:00 pm: Soul R Coaster
4:30 – 6:00 pm: Shotgun Justice

Parking and Directions

The Cortez Fishing Village is just over the Desoto Bridge in Bradenton Beaach. Head over and veer to the right. You can’t miss it. There is a remote parking area in west Bradenton. You can avoid the traffic and enjoy the bus ride with your friends to the Festival ($2.50 round trip). The new parking site is located at G. T. Bray Park (5502 33rd Ave. Dr. W., Bradenton, 34209). Just turn east off of 59th St. onto 33rd Ave. W. This same shuttle service is being provided from the remote parking area located at Coquina Beach on Anna Maria Island. Island folks can take the free trolley to the parking site. You might even be able to find a parking spot in the surrounding neighborhoods, but they property owners may charge a price.

The Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival is organized entirely by a volunteer committee of the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (F.I.S.H.), a Florida not-for-profit corporation.

Fins, Scales and Tales Art Exhibit – Florida Maritime Museum – Cortez

Fins, Scales and Tales Art Exhibit is a light-hearted, fish-themed art exhibit will showcase the talents of multiple local artists as well as colorful quotes from fishermen throughout Cortez’s rich history. Join in on the fun for light bites at the opening at The Florida Maritime Museum on Tuesday, December 4^th from 5:30pm to 7:00pm. Artists include: Baobab Arts, Bill’s Tin Art, Gordon Turner, Mike Balas and Weedline Art.

Florida Maritime Museum
4415 119^th St. W
Village of Cortez
For more information call: 941-708-6120

Want more artwork information for visiting Anna Maria Island? Visit our art walk information page as well as ArtsHop and the Manatee performing Art Center information page.

Cortez Schoolhouse Centennial Celebration

This Saturday, November 10^th, 2012 from 10 AM to 4 PM the Florida Maritime Museum at Cortez Schoolhouse is hosting some old-fashioned family fun. This celebration is for the Schoolhouse Centennial! This free event will feature live music all day, craft vendors, museum tours, and an ice cream eating contest for children. Food vendors will include Village Idiot Pizza, Tyler’s Ice Cream and Cortez smoked mullet. Kids will enjoy face painting, balloon artist, free books, and activity and craft stations. Commemorative pins will be given to pupils who attended the Cortez Rural Graded School.

Florida Maritime Museum at Cortez
4415 119^th St. W.
Cortez, Florida

The Cortez Schoolhouse event is being Sponsored by:

The Islander
Tyler’s Ice cream
R.B. “Chips” Shore, Clerk of Circuit Court

For more information contact:

Amara Cocilovo
Curator, Florida Maritime Museum
Amara.cocilovo@manateeclerk.com
941-708-6120

Annual Cortez Fishing Festival

This weekend there is something fishy going on in the Village of Cortez… With live music, fresh Florida seafood, arts and crafts displays, the Cortez Fishing Festival is sure to be fun for the whole family. The annual Cortez commercial fishing festival is expecting more than 20,000 people in the Historic Village of Cortez this weekend.

The festival starts this Saturday February 18th and will continue through Sunday February 19th from 10am to 6pm on both days. Admission is only $3, and kids under 12 get in FREE! The proceeds benefit the F.I.S.H. Preserve.

There are a couple of different Parking options available for you this year: There will be free parking east of Festival area at the F.I.S.H. Preserve, space is limited and will defiantly fill up early.

Remote Parking will be available at G. T. Bray Park in Bradenton located at – 5502 33rd Avenue Drive West Bradenton, 34209. Additional parking will be available at Coquina Beach on Anna Maria Island – Anna Maria Island residents can take the free trolley to the parking site. Round-trip shuttle service from remote parking lots is only $2.50.

Live Music Schedule

Saturday February 18th Stage #1 – Waterfront
10:30 am: Soul R Coaster
12:00 pm: Awards and Introductions
12:30 pm: Eric von Hahmann
2:00 pm: Shaman
4:00 pm: Razing Cane

Saturday February 18th Stage #2 – Bratton Store
10:30 am: Eric von Hahmann
11:45 am: Passerine
1:00 pm: Brian Smalley
2:15 pm: St Pete & Main Hatch Motley Sea Shanty Singers
2:45 pm: Eric von Hahmann
4:00 pm: Jimmy Johnson

Sunday February 19th Stage #1 – Waterfront
10:30 am: Soupy Davis and his Band
12:00 pm: Eric von Hahmann
1:30 pm: Dr. Dave Band
3:30 pm: Gumbo Boogie Band

Sunday February 19th Stage #2 – Bratton Store
10:30 am: Main Hatch Motley Sea Shanty Singers
11:15 am: Jimmy Johnson
12:30 pm: Terry Blauvelt
1:45 pm: Sister Act – Lane & Val
3:00 pm: Eric von Hahmann
4:00 pm: Eric & Jimmy

Cortez Kitchen restaurant 1/2 mile from Anna Maria Island

Sign for Cortez Kitchen Cortez Kitchen is a unique “hangout” restaurant that may not be the perfect romantic setting however the seafood is very fresh. Outdoor picnic bench seating both covered and uncovered are in close proximity to the boat docks. So….while eating your inexpensive “rustic” lunch or dinner you can sometimes watch boats come in and out of the docks. I have also personally witnessed lots of fork lift activity at the docks which my 4 year old friend’s son just loves. If you are looking for an inexpensive fresh seafood lunch or dinner and you have children that will enjoy looking at water or boats then this could be the perfect fit. The grouper is fantastic and believe or not, try the Buffalo Grouper sandwich with Blue Cheese Dressing….its a knock Kill two fish with one stone - Fresh Seafood also available out! Be sure to take a look at the picture above. The BLUE sign is a great reference point so you don’t miss the turn off of Cortez Road. One side note is the restaurant turns more into a bar around dusk so if you are taking your family be sure it’s at an appropriate time. They do offer live music usually on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Just a great all around “old Florida” bar setting.

One last thing. They do sell fresh raw seafood in an adjacent building, so if you need tomorrow’s seafood, kill two birds with one stone, or fish that is….

Cortez Kitchen
4528 119th Street West
Cortez, FL, 34210
(941) 798-9404

Cortez Kitchen restaurant in Cortez, FL

Great Fresh Seafood restaurant, Docks just next door!

Need another rustic restaurant? Starfish Company is just to the West a few blocks and also offers fresh seafood choices that can be cooked up at your Anna Maria Island Vacation Rental.