"CRACKER FOOD", is that like Florida?

The Florida Cracker Trail

Back in the day, Florida residents were known as Crackers. Mexicans were known as vaquero, in Texas they were cowboys and in Florida they were Crackers and they got this name because of their unique style in herding cattle. Cowboys used the rope or lassos. In Florida, it was a Bull Whip, and when it snaps it makes a Crack. Thus Crackers was attached to their names and what a Cracker prepared at the chuck wagon became known as Cracker Food rather than just grub, like the cowboys called it. The chuck wagon followed the cattle or horse drive on a regular basis. One of the routes started at a rendezvous point in Charlotte County, were cattle or horses were loaded onto barges and escorted out in the bay for waiting ships to transport them to Bradenton where they could continue there journey on the Florida Cracker Trail.

The Florida Cracker Trail runs from just east of Bradenton, and ends in Fort Pierce, a total distance of approximately 120 miles.

Now days, if your from Florida, not a transplant from say New York or Texas, you are a true Florida Cracker and now we know a bit of your history. Now getting back to the chow, grub, food or "Cracker Food", catch you up a mess of crabs and do up some killer crab cakes and while your waiting for those cakes to cook, read up on how to keep your Mackerel fishy free, another tasty treat to eat on the Florida Cracker Food Trail. This Cracker Food is presented by Captain Scott Moore, being almost a true Cracker since age six and that is close enough for me.

Also check out The Online Fisherman and their "Fish Spots" because those loading docks are long gone in Charlotte County now, but zoom on in with their Google maps and you too can find a new spot in catching crabs to slot reds. Good Luck and happy eating or bon apatite!

"FISH ON!"

The Mentoring Angler

Gary Anderson