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State DirectoryWalt's Fish Market WholesaleAdd to Favorites
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Freshest & Best Seafood Selection In The South
- HoursOPEN NOW
- Regular Hours:
Mon - Thu Fri - Sat Sun - Phone:
Main - 941-921-4605
Fax - 941-362-9166
- Address:
- 4144 S Tamiami Trl Sarasota, FL 34231
- Email:
- Categories
- Fish & Seafood Markets, Caterers, Restaurants, Seafood Restaurants
- Payment Options
- Neighborhoods
- South Highland, Bay Ridge
- Other Information
Cuisines: Caterers, Seafood
General Info
In 1918, a young Swede named Claus Wallin decided he wanted no more of farm life, and ran off to America with the Ringling Circus, which was making an appearance there. When he arrived in Sarasota for the winter with the performers and other roustabouts, he fell in love with the picturesque little fishing village, and a feisty Indian-Irish woman named Irene Gallagher. He and Irene were married in 1920, and the young man, who was quickly mastering the English language, settled in to stay. Irene?s brother, Jessie Gallagher, the best commercial fisherman at that time, fished the waters between Punta Gorda and Sarasota from 1920 to 1985 and taught his new brother-in-law all there was to know about the local waters. Jessie was married to Olla Roberts, whose family had settled in Immokalee and had acquired some 150,000 acres of prime land there; he was fiercely independent and wanted no part of ranching. He favored working the open waters and keeping his own hours. Even at age 85, he was STILL pulling in his own nets and setting his own traps. It was this kind of heritage and work ethic that Claus Wallin handed down through the family, first to his son Walter, followed by his grandsons, Walt and Tom Wallin. The boys grew up in Sarasota, attended local schools, and carried on the family tradition of working as commercial fisherman, learning the trade as young boys. Tom says, ?It was and pristine area then, and Sarasota was recognized as a commercial fishing village. We used to fish all night, poling our boats in front of the Ringling grounds and the Jungle Gardens looking for schools of mullet and other fish. All the fisherman were local then, and we were all friends. Gill nets were still legal there, of course, at the time. We had a few sidelines, too. We used to collect rattlesnakes on Siesta Key, then sell them to Texas Jim for between 2-5 dollars.? The brothers tended their nets in a shack on the unspoiled waters of Whitaker Bayou, placing them on racks
Contact Info
Reviews
If you're looking for something fancy, don't go here. However, if you want good Florida seafood at a great price, then Walt's is where you want to be. It's just as good as expensive restaurants across the street and down the road, for half the price! no fancy shmancy stuff though, and sometimes they won't have what you want (you have to have 2 or 3 backup choices just in case!) The waitresses are so sweet once they get to know you. I recommend the amberjack sandwich!
I could not believe what happen when I went in to order food to take home, sitting on the bench next to the cashier I watch the waitress took her hands to push the garbage down in the garbage can. WIth out washing her hands she walked over to the counter and starting making food, lettuce, ect on the sandwiches. As that was going on another women was getting fresh fish and dropped the pan on the scale, it hit the floor she picked it up and started to use it again with out washing it. I told them of my concerns, that I could not eat or give my family the almost $50.00 of food, they didn't seem to care, it did not matter that I thought that it was unclean to do these things. I left with no money refunded. I will never visit there again!!
The restaurant has an adjacent fresh fish market. The ambiance is like a step back in time and enjoyable for all ages. It is very casual, Florida cracker style, paper plates and all! Every one goes out of their way to be friendly and make you feel at home.
