Updated Feb. 23, 2019 – CORTEZ – The 37th Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival drew 15,000 lovers of all things nautical last weekend thanks to good weather, good food, good music and good fun.
The two-day event raises money to restore and enlarge the FISH (Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage) Preserve east of the Cortez commercial fishing village, a federal historic district.
Visitors took in the sights, like jewelry made from coquina shells, metal sculptures of fish and other nautical art, and listened to live music by local bands, including two Cortezians, Eric Von and Soupy Davis, and the Shanty Singers.
The Museum and the nearby Cortez Cultural Center welcomed visitors with exhibits on seashells, historic boats and the history of Cortez and its fishing families.
Kids rode ponies, had their faces painted and bounced on trampolines while attached to bungee cords.
Service awards were presented to festival volunteers Ardith Black and Joe Egolf, and Robin Schock won the community service award. Patricia (Pattycakes) Banyas was presented with the pioneer award; she attended the Cortez Rural Graded School that is now the Florida Maritime Museum “in bare feet,” she said.
As white pelicans skimmed Sarasota Bay at the docks at Cortez Bait and Seafood, John Stevely and Angela Collins showed visitors the different types of fish caught locally, gave some perspective on the 1995 gill net ban that drastically reduced mullet fishing in Florida and answered questions about commercial fishing.
The festival featured the blessing of the commercial fishing fleet and dock loads of seafood for visitors to enjoy.
The past six months have been especially tough for Cortez fishermen with a long-lasting red tide bloom that killed huge populations of local fish, as well as dolphins, manatees and seabirds.
It’s not the only difficulty fishing families have faced.
Despite fishing regulations, runaway development, overpopulation, pollution, mangrove destruction and foreign seafood imports, the Cortez commercial fishing tradition has survived, as portrayed by artist Rose Lipke’s 2019 festival logo, an octopus juggling all the issues in the face of “Changing Tides.”
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FISH Preserve a dream come true
Susan Curry's artwork welcomes guests to the festival. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Cortez crab traps - Cindy Lane | Sun
The Shanty Singers were among the eight bands that entertained festival goers. - Cindy Lane | Sun
A net shed on the edge of the FISH Preserve in Cortez. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Peggy Donoho and Ron Prouty, authors of Miguel's Bay, an historical novel about Terra Ceia pioneers. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Marine biologists John Stevely and Angela Collins gave "Dock Talks" about fishing at the festival. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Ed Straight, of Bradenton Beach-based Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Inc., with two of his rescued owls. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Buoys colorfully painted as fish were a new addition to the nautical art show. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Boy Scout Matthew Kurutz wants to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, and he plans to build bridges to do it in the FISH Preserve. - Cindy Lane | Sun
White pelicans - snowbirds - and native brown pelicans at the FISH Preserve. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Seafood was king at the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Art by Mike Parrott of Brushes and Bouquets. - Cindy Lane | Sun
The Cortez Village Historical Society brought their famous strawberry shortcake to the festival. - Cindy Lane | Sun
A "trash fish" made from recycled garbage was on display at the Cortez Cultural Center. - Cindy Lane | Sun
The festival had kid's activities for every age group, including bungee bouncing, pony rides and face painting. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Doug Deming and the Jewel Tones were among eight bands that entertained festival crowds. - Cindy Lane | Sun
The A.P. Bell docks in Cortez. - Cindy Lane | Sun
FISH board member Jane von Hahmann presented a community service award to volunteer Robin Schock. - Cindy Lane | Sun
FISH Board member Jane von Hahmann presented volunteer Joe Egolf with a service award. - Cindy Lane | Sun
FISH board member Jane von Hahmann presented a service award to Ardith Black. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Patty Banyas, left, pictured with her son, John Banyas, host of the festival, was presented with the Cortez Pioneer award. - Cindy Lane | Sun
A mangrove island forms off the FISH Preserve. - Cindy Lane | Sun
