Star Fish Company Restaurant, Cortez Florida

RhondaK’s work on show at one of the last working docks in

Florida

Crab SignI am a supporter of Florida fisheries. I even used to

work at Mote Marine Laboratory and have been really in touch with the “science” of fisheries, but really believe that historical caretakers of Florida fisheries are Key. Cortez ,Florida fisherman have been aggressive about maintaining habitats buy buying up wetlands with their own money. I consider the Bell’s of Cortez to be Key players in insuring that the world feeds on wild caught fish of many kinds. I even worked in their fish market. I am utterly in love with Cortez. My own grandfather was called the mullet man of Cork. To maintain that one on one fisherman to table flow is key. I utterly support anything Cortez. To support them further see:

http://www.fishpreserve.org Further, Florida’s fisherman have been key stake

holders in holding back development that destroys Florida’s essence.

WHAT? You might ask. Look, I’m a turtle hugger well acquainted with by catch issues. Do you want the sea to belong to Bush’s sea farm plans to cronies or in the hands of people who have held it in their very hearts? Florida fisherman do not have huge harvesting ships. Just simple 40 ft. or so boats with 3-4 people .

That doesn’t fit what you know about fishing does it? It is a highly personal, hands on shepherding of food for people.

I feel strongly on this issue. If you don’t, I ask you relook at it.

Florida’s fisheries are KEY to that which is Florida. This sign is about being careful about crab buoys. I built it with Tiki Man – one of my mentors.

TAKE YOUR PIC with some….ROPE. Really BIG Rope.

I know you’re thinking, RhondaK this is NOT FUN…well, let’s get there. Karen Bell asked me to make a sign so tourists could take pics with her really big pile of rope. Seriously, it is great looking rope!

ROPE Yourself IN…

I built this sign on my own. In keeping with my desire to use found wood, I found the main part washed up at Siesta Key, the main cross portion has a huge rusty nail in it. That piece came from Safety Harbor. All pieces came from places that used to support active commercial fishing communities.

Captain Kathe’s Sign

Captain Kathe’s sign was held up while I looked for the right wood. This item is from Robert’s Bay. The funny thing about it is I painted a blue crab with 8 legs. A crab has 10 legs. The sign includes one of the many sea dogs of Cortez. This is her first mate Pup Pup. For more information and tour info on Captain Kathe see:

http://www.captkathe.com

This is a basic Captain Kathe sign. The boats in back are a variety of active and non-active vessels. Some are bandit boats, crab boats and a grouper boat. When you hang out at Star Fish Company

sometimes you meet some real fisherman. Buy them a beer! They tell funny stories. Treat yourself to a good time!

This is the Miss Katie docked in back of Bell’s Fish house. You’d be surprised how many people this one little boat that usually has a crew of 3 feeds!

Look at those silly pelicans!

No, look at my sign. What many people don’t realize is the historical building of the Star Fish Company ( Star Fish—not starfish) doesn’t allow for a great big kitchen. A great portion of the building is taken up with a seafood market that provides wild caught seafood to locals. The actual restaurant kitchen is probably smaller than your closet. If it is season –grab yourself a beer and RELAX!

Igor was the Star Fish Company Dockside Restaurant’s dog. He could be frequently found on the back dock. Constantly, he’d be in touch with where his owner was. He’d run in front of her car all the way home. Igor passed this year to the great fishing preserve that all good sea dogs go to.

Igor IS still a one of a kind dog. He is missed.

This is another sign I painted for the Star Fish Company Dockside Restaurant. It talks about when they begin to get ready to cook. At the Star Fish, they have great food – NOT FAST FOOD. When I’m hanging on the dock the I FEEL this saying: If you’re lucky enough to be hanging out on a dock—you’re lucky enough!

The previous image is of a small sign I gave Ms. Bell for Christmas. It is the restaurant hours on a board that used to be part of an old Siesta Key house that has been leveled.

Above it is some local art. Cortez puts on an amazing seafood festival that supports many local maritime, nautical and fishing themed artists. The market sells many of them.

I have an ever changing display of $5 and $10 signs on display. These are varied and super colorful. On the most part they keep my Jeep running and just give me an excuse to hang out on the back deck of the restaurant. I love going there. I found it changed my life. I will suggest to you…if you spend time on this dock – you’ll never ever be the same again.

http://www.starfishcompany.com/