The stone crab season started Oct 15 and Cortez fishermen are bringing in this delicious seafood to the docks over the last several weeks.
This weekend at the 8th Annual Cortez Stone Crab & Music Festival the crab claws will be the featured attraction. In the 1880’s settlers came down from North Carolina and founded a small Gulf coast commercial fishing village which is now known as Cortez Fishing Village. Today Cortez is one of the last remaining fishing villages in Florida and home to about 5,000 people. Most of them still live off the water in different ways. The people of Cortez are quite proud of their history and preserving the legacy of this area. It is labeled on the National Register of Historic Places. To celebrate their maritime heritage several festivals are held every year. Cortez is just a short drive from the Southern tip of Anna Maria Island. It is fun to visit anytime of the year. Restaurants with fresh fish and seafood, the village is quaint with small streets lined with cottages, homes and businesses and many with boats in the front yard. Obviously not now, but you will also see lots of crab traps stored in the yards before and after the stone crab season. You walk, bike or golf cart rather than drive and it’s the kind of neighborhood where people know and lookout for each other. This weekend Nov 9 and 10, 2019 will be another occasion to display their fishing skills at the Stone Crab Festival that is hosted by the Swordfish Grill Restaurant. The free event is held from 10 am to 6 pm and takes place at the restaurant location at 4628 119th St W. Or come by boat and look for Marker 49! Besides fresh seafood and beer, there are local art vendors and a kids play area. Live music will start at 10 am on three stages at the East end of the fishing village. If you are in Cortez, take some time and check out the “Sea Hagg”, an eclectic maritime store or the
Florida Maritime Museum.
If you have any other question about the area feel free to reach out to our Vacation Rental Team. You can reach us at 941 779 0304 or send us a
quick message.
