North Jetty Update
#26 ▪ March 30, 2025 ▪ Fishing ▪ Parking ▪ Kayaking ▪ Future Progress
When you finally learn the secrets of the universe
and the meaning of life,
try to act surprised.
-Xwise
North Jetty Update
The re-opening of the North Jetty happened just 29 days ago (March 1st). This was pretty quick considering the devastating destruction it endured from three back-to-back hurricanes in the last half of 2024. The last one — Milton — hit us hard on October 9th, 170 days ago.
The clean-up and repairs to homes, buildings, streets, and our beaches continues. The harder hit South Jetty in Venice may not re-open for another year or two or maybe more. But things are improving on Casey Key, especially around the south end of the key and the North Jetty. Let’s take a look at how things are around the south end of Casey Key, Nokomis Beach, North Jetty Park, and on the North Jetty itself.
Businesses on the North Jetty
The North Jetty was home of three businesses before the 2024 hurricane season. These were The North Jetty Grill, the Trolley Car Fish Camp, and Jetty Rentals.
The Fish Camp was the oldest resident business, having been established as a restaurant overlooking the inlet, beginning in 1947. Sadly, the Trolley Car Fish Camp was destroyed beyond repair during last year’s hurricane season. The building was removed by the county at the end of February, 2025.
The North Jetty Grill is the latest tenant that came later following Sarasota County’s construction of a permanent building for public rest rooms and a food concession. It re-opened on March 1st.
Jetty Rentals is the latest enterprise, first opened in January 2017.
Jetty Rentals Update
A very entrepreneurial couple, Joey, and his wife Lindsey, own and operate Jetty Rentals at the North Jetty (1000 S. Casey Key Road, Nokomis). They rent kayaks and paddle boards so visitors can explore the waters of the Intracoastal Waterway [IW] and the Gulf of America. This couple’s ability to adjust with the effects of our weather and adapt to changing economic conditions are hallmarks of the entrepreneurs. Hurricane Ian nearly three years ago and last year’s multiple hurricanes reduced the number of visitors and affected their business in a negative way. In spite of it all, they have persevered and survived.
When the North Jetty was closed after Hurricane Milton, they moved their trailers filled with kayaks and paddle boards farther north up Casey Key on the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway nearer to the Albee Road Bridge. Now back at the their traditional site at the entrance to the Gulf, business is picking up with the improvement in the weather, the influx of Spring Break visitors, the re-opening of North Jetty Park, and renewed vehicle and pedestrian access to the North Jetty.
Elsewhere Near the North Jetty
North Jetty Park (1000 Casey Road S.) is open! The kids’ playground is accessible and the picnic pavilion and smaller picnic shelters are all open for use. The parking lot is open, too.
Just past North Jetty Park, the North Jetty Grill is back to normal operation and the public rest rooms are also open. Note that the large parking lot between the rest rooms and the inlet waterway is still closed as well as access to a pair of lots nearer to the Gulf. Walking access to the North Jetty and the beach have been unaffected. Clean-up in both parking lots is continuing. Stay tuned for further updates on the re-opening of these two key parking areas.
On the Waterfront
Intracoastal Waterway
Keys Huka Dive boat was at the westwide bulkhead just north of the Albee Road Bridge this past Monday. This boat takes divers offshore to dive for shark teeth and do Megalodon fossil hunting. They also offer dive charters, snorkel adventures, boat tours, sunset tours, and instruction for those who want to become certified to dive with SCUBA gear.
Final Month of 2024-25 Stone Crab Season
There’s still time to get fresh stone crabs at your favorite seafood restaurant. But the fishery is preparing to close down soon. The final day of the 2024-25 Florida Stone Crab fishery is Thursday, May 1st. The fishery will be closed May 2nd through October 14th of 2025.
Nokomis is host to several commercial stone crab boats. In season, they can be seen loading traps and bait at the Casey Key bulkhead on the western side of the Intracoastal Waterway just north of the Albee Road Bridge.
Photo: Florida Division of Marine Fisheries Management
New Book
The Heart of Venice: Celebrating the Charm of Venice, Nokomis, and Osprey, Florida
There’s a new beautiful coffee table book, lavishly illustrated, that celebrates our Southwest Florida coast. Aptly titled, The Heart of Venice: Celebrating the Charm of Venice, Nokomis, and Osprey, Florida, it is a timely addition that leads us into the upcoming 100th anniversary of the city of Venice.
Written and photographed by Osprey resident Lee Grace Mathews, her book illustrates the vintage charm of our communities and spotlights the variety of wildlife and natural beauty of our beaches and the lush landscape all around us. The Heart of Venice is at turns educational and inspirational. Author Mathews recounts a timeline of our early history and the key visionaries who led community development. Stunning color photographs further stimulate the reader’s imagination and desire to visit and learn more. Every page is a feast for the eyes. Gift this book to your friends.
The Heart of Venice: Celebrating the Charm of Venice, Nokomis, and Osprey, Florida is published by Palm Printing. It is $29.95. Check your local bookstore for availability.
Osprey-Nokomis Chamber of Commerce News
Most of the businesses and non-profits in Osprey and Nokomis, and nearby Venice, are members of this growing chamber of commerce. If you are running an organization in this area of Southwest Florida, you should be a member, too.
Upcoming Event: Tuesday, April 15: 8:00 - 9:00 am. Coffee Connections event. Take part in this joint networking event with Osprey Nokomis Chamber of Commerce and Venice Area Chamber of Commerce, hosted by Pop's Sunset Grill [4112 Circuit Road
Nokomis, FL 34275]! This is a great opportunity to find new contacts while enjoying a cup of coffee with other business and non-profit chamber members from Nokomis, Venice, and the surrounding area. Free event. Pre-registration required. Click on the name to register: OSPREY-NOKOMIS CHAMBER
This Week in Nokomis
Monday, March 31st: The Sand Fleas, a unique ukulele orchestra featuring players armed with ukuleles, guitars, mandolins, violins, and harmonicas. Everybody sings together as well.
The general public is invited to come and sing along. 10:00-11:30 am. Rain or shine. Under the Nokomis Beach Pavilion, 100 Casey Key Road, Casey Key, Nokomis. Free admission. Free parking. Come join in for this Monday Musical Adventure!
Monday-Friday (March 31-April 4): Nokomis Daily Beach Yoga Group. Yoga benefits include improved balance, breathing, flexibility, strength, and spinal health. All ages welcome. Residents, tourists, and visitors are welcome. Bring a large towel or blanket and a beverage/water. Daily Yoga sessions are held at 9:00 AM. On Nokomis Beach, just North of the Shark Tooth Concession. Free parking. Donations welcome.
Monday - Friday (March 31-April 4): Hula Hooping. Exercise Fun with the Classic Hula Hoop on Nokomis Beach. 9-10 am. Get off the couch and join us!! Free admission. Free parking. Hula Hoops provided, or bring your own.
Wednesday, April 2nd:: Nokomis Drum Circle. On Nokomis Beach, 207 Casey Key Road, Nokomis. From 2 hours before and thru sunset. Drumming, singing, dancing. Family friendly. Everyone is welcome. Free admission. Free parking.
Saturday, April 5th: Nokomis Drum Circle. On Nokomis Beach, 207 Casey Key Road, Nokomis. From 2 hours before and thru sunset. Drumming, singing, dancing. Family friendly. Everyone is welcome. Free admission. Free parking.
Nokomis Beach Talks Return in May
PLEASE NOTE: No Nokomis Beach Talk on Friday, April 4th.
Captain Joe Cellamare returns to the Nokomis Beach Pavilion at 9am on Friday, May 2nd with a Masterclass on Spring & Summer Sportfishing on the Gulf.
Mark your calendar and invite your friends, neighbors, visitors, students, and sportfishing lovers to attend this final workshop of the 2025 Nokomis Beach Talks series. Free admission. Free parking. Seating is limited, so please BYO beach chair.
What I’m Reading
In addition to Lee Grace Mathew’s new book noted above, I’ve been digging through the growing pile of non-fiction books on my coffee table. This week’s selections included the memoir, Entrances and Exits (Permuted Press, 2024) by legendary Seinfeld actor, Michael Richards. His life story is not like anything you might have imagined. He shares it all. His early life with his grandmother and single Mom, his early stand-up career, his focus on reading and learning, his U.S. Army service in Germany as a member of the V-Corps Training Road Show, his role on the TV show Fridays, his wife and daughter, his long journey to developing and becoming the character of Cosmo Kramer, and everything post-Seinfeld. I was surprised and impressed by how smart and knowledgeable he is about his craft and so much more. Just the description of his process for becoming the characters he has inhabited is more than worth the cost of this down-to-earth tome. We have been fortunate to have witnessed the result of all his hard work. Go. Read this book. And then, as Kramer would say, “Giddyup!”
Another recent purchase is a helpful reference book, Florida Place Names; Alachua to Zolfo Springs (Pineapple Press, 1995), by Allen Morris and Joan Perry Morris. As a busy writer and researcher, this book answers an abundance of questions I have daily about the source and meaning of the words that have been attached to the places in this fast growing, vast, and wonderful state of Florida. This book is the result of a 50-year effort by Allen Morris who began his search in 1946 putting together the first edition of The Florida Handbook. He reports that in 1930 Florida had 110 cities. In 1993 there were 393. Today a total of 411 municipalities are recorded, that include cities, towns, and villages. Each one has a name. Each has a history. And each one, for the people who live there, is important. This book tells who, what, when, where, and why. A great resource.
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