Woodys is a boat friendly local favorite with a very comfortable vibe and a solid menu that's very reasonably priced. You'll find Woodys Pub & Grill on the northern bank of the Manatee just upriver from the I-75 Bridge.

Another beautiful Tampa Bay Saturday from the mouth of the Manatee River. We got there a little early, and stayed a little late and it was great to see so many of our neighbors enjoying the sunshine on the water in Mantee County!

Spectacular views, and fresh food at reasonable prices from AMI directly across from Passage Key....

A boaters paradise in a protected harbor on the Manatee River; 4 marinas, fuel docks, single family homes, luxury townhomes...

Brand new docks, beautiful views and a superior atmosphere, have a cold one on the beach at the river....

The finest, freshest seafood in a casual old Florida atmosphere....

Manatee/Skyway Take 2: We planned on taking images the day before and in fact we did, but it was a hazy day all morning/early afternoon so the images were much less than expected. As opposed to investing a lot of time to edit/post hundreds of images I wouldn't be proud of we decided to hit it again on Sunday and these are those that are posted below. It wasn't great, but it was 100% better than Sat.

If you happened to have happened by on Sat and would like to see those please send an email with a description of your boat: make, model, color, the approximate time and whether you were headed in or out and I'll get you what we have.

Protect your investment: pressure wash, shrink wrap and wrap with Under Dock Reef...

Heading out of the harbor on Sat there were some ominous looking clouds that appeared to be exactly where I was heading, which is almost always a good sign as they're never there by the time you arrive. Saturday was no exception as the weather couldn't have been better for the short trip to the mouth of the Manatee River or a few pics with the Sunshine Skyway as a background.

As always if you're pictured here and would like the high resolution, non-watermarked originals with your $100 contribution to Tampa Bay Watch, Eckerd College Search and Rescue or MOTE Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. (Please note Tampa Bay Boater promotion in your giving). If you're not happy with your inclusion please send an email, along with an image number, and we will be happy to remove it from display both here and on social media.

An Anna Maria Island institution serving a taste of old Florida since 1947 directly from the Gulf of Mexico....

We made the quick ride out to the mouth of the Manatee River on Saturday where we could catch area boaters running out from Manatee/Sarasota with the iconic Sunshine Skyway backdrop. Boat traffic was very light, probably because of the wind forecast, but it ended up being a beautiful day with with Anna Maria Island providing a buffer from the west winds.

At any rate, as always: here are a couple of images of each boat and if you're pictured here and would like the high resolution images they can be yours with your $100 contribution to one of our supported marine non-profits (Click Here for more information). If you are less than excited about your picture being posted just let us know and we'll be happy to take them down.

The Riverhouse brings a unique dining experience to the historic district of Palmetto...

Riviera Dunes Dockside in a protected harbor on the north side of the Manatee River just past the Tamiami bridge...

The wind was blowing 15-20 with a small craft advisory for offshore boaters but we just couldn't resist getting out there as we'd missed so many due to these conditions. True to form the boat traffic was severely limited as those with the most sense stayed home but thankfully there were a few others who shared our desperation and were greeted with just a stiff chop in Anna Maria Sound.

Nestled in the heart of one of Florida's last remaining fishing villages, Cortez Kitchen serves up fresh seafood....