Banks Journals

As captain of the Medusa, Blake Banks digilently kept journals throughout his fishing career. In these books he logged a wealth of information, including his preferred fishing spots, the water and weather conditions, the fish he caught, and how much he sold them for. He recorded the costs of ice, diesel, and boat upkeep. He chronicled events in his life both onshore and offshore. These journals catalog in great detail the life and work of a Cortez commercial fisherman. The Florida Maritime Museum is working to transcribe and digitize the journals for the public to enjoy. Here you will find full scans and transcriptions of those journals. 

The journals of Blake Banks have been transcribed as faithfully as possible by our diligent museum volunteers. This means that any misspellings have been reproduced in the transcription as written by Captain Banks. As keepers of public history, the Florida Maritime Museum does not edit or “correct” historical records. Please keep in mind that these are personal journals not originally intended for public consumption. They contain references to adult themes that may not be suitable for all audiences. Some personal information has been redacted for the protection of those mentioned in the journals.