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....

Just another beautiful Tampa Bay day on the water at the mouth of the Manatee River with the iconic Sunshine Skyway background. It was my grandson's second birthday but thankfully the event was scheduled for later in the day so I was able to sneak out for a couple of hours.

As always, if you're pictured here and would like the full sized, non-watermarked versions... or would prefer that your images not be posted please check our support page so we can make that happen for you.

It was nice to get out Sunday on the long Labor Day Weekend to catch some of my neighbors around the mouth of the Manatee River with the Sunshine Skyway backdrop. We started out with some spotty, but heavy, cloud but they seemed to move on as the day went on so overall it was a great day for boating!

If you're pictured here and would like all in the sequence, along with the high resolution originals, or would prefer it not be published please check out our support page and get in touch.

We had family obligations for most of the weekend but I was able to sneak out on Sunday for a few pics in Longboat Pass. Though the boat traffic was surprisingly light (almost empty Jewfish Key), the weather didn't disappoint and I was really glad I made the trip.

As always, if you're pictured here and would like the high resolution, non-watermarked, versions... or would prefer that your images not be published please let us know.

Dockside dining in Manatee post Helene and Milton will not be the same....