Anna Maria/Cortez info?

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Riverbed

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Posted this in cruising guides but it probably fits here better. Any thoughts?

Posted - Oct 26 2007 : 21:51:01
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Gonna be on Anna Maria Nov 1, 2 and 3. Any ideas as to where I should be boating (power, 24' I/O). Scenic day trips, drive-up/tie-up restaurants, etc? Thinking mostly AMI south but have access to private dockage on south side of Tampa Bay/Bradenton so not ruling that out either. Thanks in advance...
 
gosh i could go on for hours.

a must visit lunch spot is starfish company, right next to ap bell in cortez. they are cash only but the BEST seafood around.

i am sure you have heard me rave about jewfish key, just inside of longboat pass.

if the weather is nice, many like edgmont and the mouth of tampa bay.

oh yeah another favorite restaurnat is marvista on the northern end of longboat key.

if you are in the river, mangrove grill is nice and madisons is even better.

if you want more specfics....just let me know.
 
Joe - thanks for the reply - good to see someone's enjoying those fantastic cruising grounds down there and willing to share some insider info! We love Marvista's sister restaurants on AMI (Sandbar- I won the sunset/free champaign contest once - and the Beachhouse) so I think we'll give Marvista a shot plus, Starfish sounds very cool so that will probably be a stop as well. We'll be boating in the area so it will be fun tio hit by water. Mangrove sounds good - but where's Madisons? I couldn't find anything about it anywhere. You've got a great neighborhood - thanks for sharing - I'll hoist a drink in your direction next week! If you're ever up this way, please feel free to check in!
Cheers -
Steve
 
maine is a wee bit cold for my thin blood....but would love to visit.

madisons is actually the old twin dolphin.

http://www.twindolphinmarina.com/ is the marina

http://www.mattisons.com/riverside.cfm is the restaurant at the marina.

Wish i could get out and have a drink on the water with you....if you make it to mangrove grill call the dock master on 68. they will give you a slip assignment. my boat is on the north dock slip 5 there is cold beer in the cooler in the cockpit.
 
Again - thanks for the awesome info! Think we'll try that out. The way it looks now, we're going to go to the "Taste of the Manatee," on Saturday, Nov 3, and rather than drive, we'll probably come by water. As for the beer, thanks for the offer but I'd feel sorta wierd skulking around the area - especially with a New England accent and Red Sox shirt. Maybe a tacky Hawaiian model tho. This has been really helpful and again, sincere thanks! Lobster bisque (or maybe the whole thing in a vat of better) is waiting for you if you make it up north!
 
to get to it by water you will most likely have to dock at the twin dolphin.....do not let them catch you docking and running...they are not very happy about things like that.
 
Yeah, I'm at Twin Dolphin too (G dock - Extreme West dock). They'll arrest your boat if you "dock and run". However, they have quite a few open slips for boats < 40' and some for bigger boats for transient docking or day trips. You can also drop the hook just outside the channel by the entrance (plenty of water) and go in to their dinghy dock. You can safely drop the hook just west (down river side) of markers "20" and "22". I've seen boats with >5' draft here.

Also Matteson's has a free dock on the seawall for guests who are dining on the West side of the building to accomodate 2 boats <40' Don't tie up in front of the building or you'll get run down since this is the entrance. We eat there whenever we go to the boat. It's a bit pricey but the food and especially the sushi is awesome.

Edited to add: Twin Dolphin answers on channel 72. Riviera Dunes (just up the river) answers on 68. As a side note, if you need fuel for the return trip, go to Riviera Dunes for the best price. Twin Dolphin is WAY high and they don't turn it over fast enough.
 
riviera dunes will give .10$ off per gallon for boat us memebers

skeetobite is right about the anchorage, plenty of water even on low tide...and what seems to be very good holding.
 
Thanks for all the info - heading down in the morning...
 
Mattison's for lunch today - thanx for the info on dockage and wouldn't even consider a "dock and run," - very poor form! Gonna graze thru the "Taste of The Manitee," fundraiser tonight. Did the sunset jello shots and dinner last night at the Sundeck on Bradenton Beach. Key West tomorrow and back Wednesday for a boating lunch at Starfish Company. Love the 2-foot tides and light chop boating conditions here. Y'll are very lucky to be here year round!
 
Glad you enjoyed it! We're heading to the boat tomorrow and will go out through Tuesday p.m. We don't like to hang at the dock when the "Tastefest" is going on.

Can't wait... it's been nearly 3 weeks :-(

BTW: Starfish has the best Grouper sandwiches. When everyone else is out, they still have it. They told me that they have their own boats that go out.

They only take cash at Star Fish though... no credit cards (unless it changed in the past month or so).
 
The saga continues - made the run from Anna Maria to Key West - took some time but not the 9 to 15 foot seas New England had this weekend. Love your "non-lumpy" water! Saw the Superboat parade down Duval Street yesterday and heading to Punta Gorda today. Don't think my liver can survive Superboat Week in KW much longer. Not that I want to sound like the southern gulf coast chamber of commerce but this area is fantastic. You're industrally lucky to be here year-round. We'll post some photos when we get back.
 
be safe making the crossing back to punta gorda.

glad you enjoyed maddisons

enjoy starfish...and yes skeetobite it is still cash only at starfish....and i prefer sauted shrimp with double slaw and hush puppies.
 
Hi all - just got back up north to 32 degree weather but wanted to say thanks for all the info you passed along. Loved your neighborhood! Met Charlie Price - the Twin Dolphin Harbor Master and he was great with dockage space while we had dinner at Mattisons. Key West was awesome with the Superboat opening festivities, spent 30 seconds at Punta Gorda but loved Harpoon Harry's, found some dockage 3 docks down heading toward Anna Maria from the Boca Del Rio Marina in Bradenton (I was a little under dressed for the neighborhood) and hoisted a merlot (I've fallen and I can't get up)in your direction at Starfish. Had a fantastic blackened grouper - for cash only. Again, thanks!
Steve
Riverbed

Flordia-Nov07003.jpg
 
Glad you had a good trip. Did Charlie happen to put you on "G" dock? I saw someone come in when tnhe winds started picking up. If that was you, I was two slips down.
 
Nope - wasn't us. We didn't stay over so we just did the seawall next to the restaurant and headed out about 10-ish. BTW, loved the "Southern Comfort," tied up on E Dock. Great looking boat. Think we're going to try and make it back down again in mid-winter for a Super Bowl party near the Boca Del Rio and that will probably involve another run to Mattisons. Love that neighborhood!
 
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