Blessing of the Fleet Has New Organizers, New Location—and a Few New Twists

The Blessing of the Stone Crab Fleet in Everglades City is being floated down the Barron River a bit, to its new location at the Camilla Street Grill. The event, that starts Saturday, September 30, at 10 AM, is 13 years old. Its new organizers are introducing new activities and live entertainment. They’re even offering attendees free food—while it lasts.

The Florida Stone Crabbers Association (FLSCA), who have been organizing the huge Everglades Seafood Festival for the past two years, are now organizing the Blessing of the Fleet. Previously the Blessing of the Fleet was held at the Rod and Gun Club.

“It's the first year that the Florida Stone Crabbers Association has taken it on,” said Kelly Kirk, a founding member of the FLSCA, along with Carrie Doxey and Holly Dudley. Kirk is part of a five generation Floridian fishing family who founded Kirk Fish on Goodland in the 1950s.

"You know,” Kirk said, "we took on the Everglades Seafood Festival. We're going into our third year with that. Everglades City is kind of a special place to all of us. And we're in the stone crab capital of the world down here. So, it was a natural fit for the Florida Stone Crab Association to take over the Blessing of the Fleet. But we've kind of given it a little twist. We've made it a little bit better. Something new. We've invited crabbers from all over the state. So, it's not just our local crabbers. We're not sure how many are going to come because it is close to crab season. But we hope that if they can't bring their boat, they'll still drive down. We expect to have a nice display of boats come down the river. We're going to have one of our local pastors from Chokoloskee, Craig Daniels, bless the boats for a prosperous, healthy, safe season.”

Stone Crab season opens October 15 and runs until May 1. 

Naiara Rementeria, owner of Camellia Street Grill, is hosting the event. She said to arrive early if you want to enjoy the free food.

"We're going to have free food,” Naiara Rementeria said, "first come, first serve. It's going to be black beans and rice with pork. We'll be cooking all night. It'll be slow cooked. Delicious. Just amazing. We will have a bar set up, a donation only bar.” 

"We've got a new game this year,” Kirk said, “it’s called Bait the Trap.”

In Bait the Trap, contestants attempt to toss a mullet into a stone crab trap.

"Usually, they do the frog jumping contest,” Kirk said. "We changed that up a little bit. Something a little more relevant to stone crabbing. Every toss gets a little further, so we'll see who has the best aim.”

Rementeria is looking forward to the Guava-Coconut Cake contest.

“So far we have seven people,” Rementeria said, "which is the most, I believe, they've ever had. I mean, I don't ever remember there being more than three or four people maybe, if that. So, seven is going to be super neat and different.”

Live entertainment will be performed by local favorites Gator Nate and Jack Shealy. 

Of course, the star of the show is the fleet of stone crab boats.

“They're going to meet at the mouth of the river,” Kirk said, “all of the stone crabbers that are bringing their boats down. They’re all going to come in at the same time. We're going to be able to see the whole fleet come in. It's going to give everybody goosebumps. The plan is to meet at the mouth of the river at 10:00 and then they should be in here by 10:30. I always think I'm going to get goosebumps when they come down the river, so I always do. It's so exciting, it really is. Anyone that wants to come enjoy it, please come down. It's going to be a fun day. Lots of entertainment and activities. It's going to be a great way to kick off an awesome year of stone crabbing. So come down and support us. You don't have to be a stone crabber to be here. Not at all. Come down, enjoy it. It’s something to do on a Saturday morning."

Blessing of the Fleet will take place on September 30 at 10 AM, at Camellia Street Grill, 202 Camellia St. W., Everglades City. Boats will arrive around 10:30 AM and festivities will begin shortly thereafter.