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Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival

Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival 2026


44th Annual Cortez Fishing Festival
February Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th, 2026, 10am to 6pm.

Located along the waterfront in front of Star Fish Company and AP Bell on 46th Ave W between 123rd St W and 124th St W, Cortez, Florida.

Featuring: Community displays, nautical and environmental art, food, live music, kid’s area, Cortez photo contest, fishermen’s fashion show Saturday, blue crab eating contest Sunday.

Admission $5 to benefit F.I.S.H. Preserve. Kids under 12 free.

Parking: The Boy Scouts in partnership with FISH will offer on-site parking at the Preserve, which is located one block east of Cortez Village, Cortez Road, for $5 donation. Bus and golf cart transportation to the festival entrance at 123rd St W will be provided.

Off-Site Parking is available at Cortez Road Baptist Church between 99th and 100th Street and Cortez Road with free shuttle to the festival provided by The Monkey Bus.

For festival information call 941-301-4000

The Cortez Photo Contest is presented by The Artists’ Guild Gallery of Anna Maria Island (AGGAMI). For further information please contact Janet Razze with AGGAMI at 941-779-5477. Online submission deadline is February 9.

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Anna Maria Island Bridge and Cortez Bridge Openings Change

Update Oct, 2017: USCG approved changes to opening times, effective Oct. 5 year-round, to be at quarter past, 0015, and quarter to the hour, 0045, from 0600 to 1900H, on the Manatee Ave (Anna Maria Island) Bridge and the Cortez Bridge. The change also applies to Stickney Point and Siesta Drive bridges in Sarasota. Longboat Pass bridge continues as open on-demand.

Update Feb, 2017: U.S. Coast Guard proposes changing operating schedule of bridges across the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway from three times per hour to twice. Anna Maria Bridge and Cortez Bridge will open on the quarter hour and three-quarter hour on demand, during daylight hours. The change is to be year-round. The proposal is open for comment until April 14.

On Jan 15, 2014, the US Coast Guard began its winter schedule for the timed raising of 2 bridges that connect Anna Maria Island to the mainland.

Passing under the Anna Maria Island Bridge

The summer schedule allowed for on-demand raising at 20 minute intervals: on the hour, 20 past, and 20 ’til, if required by a boat during daylight hours.

The winter schedule now in force from Jan 15 to May 15 is for 30 minute intervals: on the hour, and the half hour, on demand, during daylight.

Continue reading “Anna Maria Island Bridge and Cortez Bridge Openings Change”
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St Patrick’s Day Parade On Anna Maria Island

Holmes Beach restaurateur Sean Murphy of the Beach Bistro hosted the 17th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday. The popular parade attracts over 15,000 celebrators to enjoy the free event consisting of floats, bands, cars, animals, boats and walkers. It is open to all-comers.

The parade participants assembled at the Holmes Beach City Hall field at 2 pm and began moving at 4 pm north up Marina Drive and Palm Drive to 78th Street. Large crowds lined the route on the mild, sunny day. Local area school bands and pipe bands pumped out their music, floats’ riders threw out candy and beads, and decorated golf carts, cars and trucks carried local business owners.

It doesn’t take only an Irishman to enjoy the sounds and sights of a St. Patrick’s parade, and the animals and ornaments thrilled children and adults alike. Green was the theme but the celebration was for everyone.

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Top 10 US Islands

Anna Maria Island beach

Anna Maria Island has been rated fourth by Trip Advisors Travelers’ Choice Islands awards 2012, for US islands.

Only 4th? Well the survey is based on a year of travelers’ feedback on quantity and quality of island attractions, hotels, and restaurants, so it does come with some objectivity but I wonder if a few days’ visit is enough to get anything more than a superficial impression.

The U.S. list:

  1. San Juan Island, Washington
  2. Kauai, Hawaii
  3. Marco Island, Florida
  4. Anna Maria Island, Florida
    5. Continue reading “Top 10 US Islands”
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Visitors Rentals and Real Estate Warm Up 2013

The year 2013 is off to a sunny start with a very warm first weeks on Anna Maria Island. In contrast to the typical January’s cool air and fog, January, 2013, has been balmy so far. The temperature has passed 80 degrees on many days. Even the cold fronts have not brought frigid weather.

Warm weather on the island in January has its pros and cons. It’s nice not to have to turn on the heat, but this year many people’s air conditioners are still running.

Even though the island is at the northernmost point at which coconut palms can survive, it’s not surprising that from time to time they are wiped out. In the past few years, Anna Maria Island has lost many of its beautiful coconut palms. Very cold temperatures either killed them immediately or damaged them enough that they have not thrived and have been vulnerable to insect pests and disease. The warm temperatures have been very good news for some of the more cold-sensitive plants. It’s fortunate for the trees that recent cold winters have not been followed by even more cold, but, unfortunately, warm temperatures also help encourage pests.

Continue reading “Visitors Rentals and Real Estate Warm Up 2013”
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