CORTEZ – Under picture-perfect skies, thousands of attendees at the 44th annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival enjoyed live music, local seafood dishes, arts and crafts and educational exhibits.
The festival took place on Saturday, Feb. 14, and Sunday, Feb. 15. Known as a “party with a purpose,” the festival proceeds support the restoration and preservation of the 98-acre FISH (Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage) Preserve.
Attendees toured the A.P. Bell Fish Company and learned about the history of Cortez’s commercial fishing industry. Educational “Dock Talks” featuring scientists from the Florida Sea Grant program and Allen Garner’s “Tales of Cortez” presentation about the history of Cortez comprised a large part of the festival’s educational component.
First-day highlights of the two-day festival included an awards ceremony and a fishermen’s fashion show.
“Five generations ago, my family settled in Cortez in the late 1800s, along with the Culbreath’s, the Fulfords, the Guthries,” Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown said when addressing the festival crowd. “We’re proud to be part of the community and continue to grow this festival because the preservation of our waters is one of the most important things, so fishing lives on forever.”
“We’re just blessed to have families that love this place so much to be here for five generations,” FISH Treasurer Jane von Hahmann told the crowd.
Awards were presented to Florida Maritime Museum curator Torey Chase and FISH and Cortez Village Historical Society volunteer Bob Hooper.
“This is for Torey Chase for the Cortez Village Community Service Award,” master of ceremonies Bob Slicker said.
Hooper received the Cortez volunteer service award.
“Bob (Hooper) is a volunteer for the past five years. He has reworked the firehouse kitchen. He has built the little gnome city at the Cortez Cultural Center. He’s the guy that if you need it done, he will get it done,” von Hahmann said.
Von Hahmann presented a community service award to the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island.
“The next award is going to a group on Anna Maria Island and they’re a small but mighty group of people. It’s the Anna Maria Island Rotary Club,” von Hahmann said. “Nobody stepped up like they did after the two storms we had in 2024. Not only did they provide vouchers for replacement of appliances, but they also gave them bedding and they gave their time and energy to help clean up.”
When introducing Rotary Club member Judy Rupp, Slicker said, “Judy spent every day after the storm going to every single house around this neighborhood for months and months and months. When the storm happened, one of the first people I called was Judy.”
“Thank you very much. It was a pleasure and a privilege to work in Cortez,” Rupp said. “We just wanted the Cortezians to stay.”
The inaugural John Stevely Memorial Award went to Allen Garner. Garner has been working on the restoration of the FISH Preserve, which included land clearing, bridge and trail construction and a picnic pavilion.
“I am a member of the FISH board, but today I’m also a very proud son,” Alex Garner said. “My father is a born-and-raised Cortezian. He took that passion he had for this community and the waterfront and he brought that with him his entire life. Dad, you preserved not only the land, but the history and the way of life that make this village special,” Alex said.
A.P. Bell Fish Company owner Karen Bell presented the Pioneer Award to long-time Cortez resident and fisherman Richard Culbreath, who was in attendance with his wife of 70 years and his extended family.
“I want to say on a personal note, I have known Richard and his family my entire life,” Bell said. “He is a man of integrity and honor and I feel lucky to have him in my life and part of this community.”
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