Cortez, Fla., people demonstrate their ‘resiliency’

Karen Bell owns one of the oldest businesses in Cortez, Fla. – A.P. Bell Fish Company.

 

The original fish house was founded in 1940, by her grandparents, Aaron Parx Bell and Jessie Blanche Fulford Bell. The Bells and the Fulfords were two of the first fishing families to move into Cortez from Carteret County, N.C., more than 100 years ago. 

A.P. Bell Fish Company remains as the centerpiece of the commercial fishing village located on the northern shore of Sarasota Bay near Bradenton. 

Karen is often asked to speak about Cortez’s “past, present and future.” She does so gladly, but it can get emotional, personal and from-the-heart.

 

Karen Bell is a respected small buisness owner within the region.

Cortez seems to have miraculously survived…so far…against all odds. Cortez is Florida’s only remaining working waterfront with functioning fish houses. 

That makes Cortez a tourism “hot spot” destination. The Visit Florida promoters once floated the idea of bringing in tour buses. 

“You’ll be run out of town,” Karen told them. “Let the tourists get a map at the museum and take the self-guided walking tour of the historic district.” 

Her attitude is basically this: Cortez is a real, authentic, living place. We’re not an amusement, nor are we willing to sell our souls to attract crowds of tourists. We’ll welcome you, if you come to experience us, learn about us and appreciate us, but don’t you dare try to change us.

 

Observers say that Cortez “could’ve, should’ve” dried up years ago when changes in fishing rules and regulations just about strangled the mullet fishermen. 

“Why is Cortez still here?” Karen Bell asked. “We’re just stubborn. The people here are resilient. It just seems like no matter what, people stay.” 

Today, A.P. Bell operates a fleet of 17 fishing boats. Most are named after women in the Bell family, but the boats go by “Belle.” Karen said it was a “southern belle” thing that her grandfather started.

 

After graduating from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, she told her father that she wanted to come home to work in the fish house. “I love it here. The people are genuine and down to earth.” 

Now, she’s the boss. It’s like being the head of a large family. “What we do is so important. We feed people. I tell the fishermen all the time that they’re ambassadors for the industry and when they’re out on a boat or out in the world, they sure as well better be good ambassadors for what we do.” 

Karen can be seen patrolling the docks and warehouse in her rubber boots helping to process the day’s catch until the wee hours of the morning. On a good day, the crew might handle 175,000 pounds of fish.

 

Karen can drive a forklift but admits to having “never fished offshore.” She quipped: “If I want a fish, I walk in the cooler.” 

“Gutted mullet is one of the favorite food proteins around the world. Mullet is a very strong fish compared to grouper,” Karen said. 

“With grouper, you get that white, flaky meat and a mild, mild flavor. Mullet, on the other hand, it’s one of those fish that are really good for you. It’s high in Omega-3. I love it blackened, smoked and grilled. And fried is, obviously, always good.” 

Karen Bell has diversified her business interests. In 1996, she acquired Cortez’ Star Fish Company, a wholesale and retail seafood market. A small kitchen was upgraded and eight picnic tables were placed on the back dock, and a restaurant was born. Try the mullet.