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Tag: AP Bell Fish Co.

Fishing Festival proves ‘Swamped, but never sunk’

Fishing Festival proves ‘Swamped, but never sunk’

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Community News, Cortez.

CORTEZ – For the first time in the five months since a hurricane swamped the area, people were once again smiling and enjoying the camaraderie of their friends and neighbors at the 43rd Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival.

“I’m so proud of Cortez right now,” Cortez Village Historical Society (CVHS) vice-president Paul Dryfoos said on Saturday afternoon. “After all that everybody has been through and to pull off a festival like this and make it successful is so great.”

Fishing Festival proves ‘Swamped, but never sunk’
Fried grouper sandwiches were on the menu at one of the food tents. – Leslie Lake | Sun

This year’s theme, “Swamped but Never Sunk,” was an appropriate nod to the resilience of Cortez.

On the same streets where, in September, Hur­ricane Helene’s storm surge flooded many homes throughout the village, thousands of visitors gathered on the first day of the weekend festival on Feb. 15 to enjoy live music, local seafood, crafts, educational displays and kids’ activities. The festival continued on Sunday.

Fishing Festival proves ‘Swamped, but never sunk’
Sycamore Shade performed on Saturday at the 43rd Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival. – Leslie Lake | Sun

“There’s been a steady stream of people today,” Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) Trea­surer Jane von Hahmann said.

Unsure that there would be a 2025 festival due to the hurricane damage, in November the FISH board held a meeting asking for Cortez residents’ opinions about holding the annual festival. Many residents agreed that a festival would be uplifting.

100% of the proceeds from the volunteer-run festival will benefit FISH and its mission to preserve the village of Cortez and continue the conservation of the 98-acre FISH Preserve.

Fishing Festival proves ‘Swamped, but never sunk’
Stone crabs and oysters were on the menu at one food stand. – Leslie Lake | Sun

On Saturday, von Hahmann introduced Manatee County District 3 Commissioner Tal Sid­dique and Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown.

She thanked Brown for arrang­ing to have the 2025 Bradenton Area River Regatta rescheduled to Feb. 22 to avoid its conflicting with the festival.

Dr. Angela Collins, extension scientist for the Florida Sea Grant program at the University of Florida, presented educational Dock Talks on Saturday. - Leslie Lake | Sun

Dr. Angela Collins, extension scientist for the Florida Sea Grant program at the University of Florida, presented educational Dock Talks on Saturday. - Leslie Lake | Sun

 

Cortez moves forward with stone crab harvest

Cortez moves forward with stone crab harvest

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Community News, Cortez, Featured.

CORTEZ – In a display of resilience following recent back-to-back hurricanes, both Cortez fish houses are moving forward with the seasonal stone crab harvest.

Stone crab harvesting season runs from Oct. 15 through May 1.

“One boat went out today,” Karen Bell, owner of A.P. Bell Fish Co., responded by text on Oct. 15 to a question by The Sun about the viability of this year’s season. “There definitely will be a season.”

Stone crabs are harvested for their claws and then returned to the water where the claws will regenerate. The claws are a delicacy in seafood shops and restaurants.

The season will also continue this year at John Banyas’ Cortez Bait and Seafood, Inc., according to Swordfish Grill General Manager Adam Sears.

He responded to The Sun by text, saying, “We have gear in the water.”

According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) regulations for commercial harvesting of stone crabs: “Traps may be placed in the water and baited 10 days prior to the opening of the stone crab season. Please be aware that once placed, you may not tend to the traps until the start of the season, at which time you may begin harvesting.”

A Manatee County Historical Society plaque in front of Star Fish Company references a long history of determination in Cortez and reads in part: “Records show that by 1897 Cortez was a thriving fishing community with stores, a school and other refinements. The fish houses and other shoreline structures were virtually destroyed by the high waters and winds of the 1921 hurricane, but the determined residents rebuilt.”

In order to allow residents time to recover and rebuild from the two recent hurricanes, the 12th annual Cortez Stone Crab & Music Festival was canceled this year.

“We look forward to bringing back the festival better and stronger next year,” according to organizers.

DeSantis surveys Cortez hurricane damage

DeSantis surveys Cortez hurricane damage

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Community News, Cortez, Featured.

CORTEZ – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made a stop in Cortez shortly after noon on Friday, Oct. 11, and got a firsthand look at the damage to the fishing village following Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

DeSantis, FEMA Executive Director Kevin Guthrie, members of the Florida National Guard, and law enforcement, arrived at A.P. Bell Fish Co. and spoke to owner Karen Bell and local fishermen.

“Our docks need a little work, but we’re working on it,” Bell said.

The governor addressed state initiatives for the restoration of power, debris removal and gasoline supplies.

DeSantis surveys Cortez hurricane damage
Gov. Ron DeSantis and FEMA Executive Director Kevin Guthrie speak to AP Bell Fish Co. owner Karen Bell in Cortez on Friday – Leslie Lake | SUN

“We picked up all this debris on Anna Maria because they weren’t doing it quick enough, so we got a lot in Pinellas beaches, Manatee beaches; we got 50,000 cubic yards in 72 hours,” he said. “These were guys working on roads in other parts of Florida, but I had to take them off those jobs and put them here.”

It turns out that debris didn’t make that much of a difference, he said.

“We thought there were going to be projectiles. It didn’t really do that, but still, it’s about city and county getting contracts,” DeSantis said. “He’s (Kevin Guthrie) working with FEMA to be able to get that done more efficiently, but the state of Florida as a whole, we could not possibly clean up all the debris. That’s a local responsibility, but if we can supplement we will.”

Bell said debris removal is minor in the overall picture.

“Everyone here made it, our boats made it, buildings are a little rough and we were lucky compared to a lot of people,” Bell said.

DeSantis surveys Cortez hurricane damage
AP Bell Fish Co. owner Karen Bell, Gov. Ron DeSantis and FEMA Executive Director Kevin Guthrie meet in Cortez Friday to discuss local damage and restoration –
LESLIE LAKE | SUN

“We were just lucky as a whole that the storm weakened,” DeSantis said. “Thirty-six hours before landfall was much more powerful than what it hit at. Whereas Helene accelerated, this one weakened. If it had not weakened, the damage would have been twice as much.”

With more than 4 million homes without power statewide after Hurricane Milton, DeSantis said state power restoration after Hurricane Milton will be the fastest restoration at this scale in American history.

“We brought in people from as far away as California for the linemen,” he said. “They restored 1.6 million people and there are 2.2 million now, but I guarantee you, they’ll have a million more restored soon. They’re working really fast.”

Guthrie said generators and gas are being sent to gas stations.

“The number one priority for us today is not just search and rescue, but it is getting power back on and fuel to the fuel stations,” Guthrie said.

“If they don’t have generators, they may have fuel, but they can’t power it, so FPL’s going to do a good job getting power back on here relatively soon,” DeSantis said. “Any interruption of supply from the port here, we’re also working on that.”

Before leaving, DeSantis said he would be back to partake in local chowder when everything is back up and running.

“We’ll save you some,” Bell said.