Karen Bell is a dedicated member of the Cortez fishing community in Florida. Born and raised in Bradenton, she has always had a deep connection to Cortez, spending Sundays at her grandmother's house, where large family gatherings and delicious meals were a regular occurrence. Karen's father and uncles were fishermen, and she grew up surrounded by the sights and sounds of the fishing docks. Karen's father eventually transitioned from fishing to working at the AP Bell fish house in the early 1960s. In 1986, after completing college, Karen moved to Cortez and began working at the fish house.

On May 26, 1993, Michael Jepson interviewed Mark Taylor for the Vanishing Culture Project in Cortez, Florida. Mark Taylor, a longtime resident of the area, grew up in the fishing community and worked as a commercial fisherman. The interview focuses on Taylor’s extensive knowledge of local fishing grounds, changes in the landscape, and the impact of development on the marine environment. Taylor begins by describing the geography of the region, including waterways such as Wild Irishman’s Cut, Grassy Point, and Ike’s Creek, and their importance for fishing, particularly for mullet.

This interview with Marvin Carver covers family, fishing, fish camps and net spreads. He also had a bridge tender's job in Cortez.

Orrie Williams' family has been in Cortez since 1905.  His father had fish house and Orrie drove truck for him.  Williams talks about his family in Cortez, the Burton store and the 1921 hurricane. 

In this interview, Paul Taylor talks about his family, his fishing life, living in the Ilbion Inn and his views on fishing.  Taylor's father came to Cortez from North Carolina.  

Ralph Fulford is the son of 'Tink" Fulford, a fisherman, who had the Dixie Fish Co. and later the Fulford Fish Co.  Ralph ran the fish house from 1946 on.  He talks about the processing and operation of a fish house.  Also, he discusses his part in founding the Cortez Historical Society. 

In this interview, Raymond Guthrie discusses his family history and fishing experiences.  He did seine fishing and stop netting. Guthrie talks about animosity from other fishermen.  He fished and did mowing work, and some boat building.
 

Oral history interview with father and son, Raymond Stargill Pringle, Jr. and Sr.

Raymond Pringle, Jr. discusses family life, fishing with various others, seine and gill netting.  He expresses bitterness about all the regulations imposed on commercial fishing.

Raymond Stargell Pringle's family came to Cortez in 1919.  In this interview, he talks about his father and fishing with him as a kid. Later, he became a minister.