GATOR BAIT SPORTS BAR & GRILL
304 SR 26, Melrose FL 32666 · 352.475.1360
Last inspected Jul 31, 2026 · 10 visits since July 2023
MAR 25
SEP 25
JAN 26
FEB 26
JUL 26
— STEADY
5 inspections within 30 points of each other. Whatever this kitchen does, it does consistently.
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. In warmer by bulk ice bin, chowder (122F - Hot Holding), warmer set on warm, operator adjusted settings to reheat.
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Inspection history
10 visits, newest first
Jul 31, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority2 Intermediate5 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 7 findingsThe state's own report →
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board on flip top reach in cooler with food residue staining.
Raw/undercooked animal food offered and establishment has no written consumer advisory. Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. Establishment reprinted menus and consumer advisory on menu or posted and burgers offered undercooked to order. Provided signage and operator posted at front counter.
Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Handle to counter top convection oven with sticky door handle. Operator cleaned and sanitized.
Equipment in poor repair. Walk in cooler door gasket separated.
Show the remaining 3 findings ▾
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Cook line hood filters over fryers and grill with dust debris build up. Walk in cooler door gasket soiled.
Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Standing water at base of flip top reach in cooler on cook line.
Utensils in poor condition. On shelf by prep area and walk in cooler, clean plastic containers with visible cracks.
Feb 6, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation (Partial)
Nothing was found. The inspector recorded no violations at all.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Jan 14, 2026Administrative complaint recommendedComplaint Investigation
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 9 violations recorded, 1 high priority.
1 High priority1 Intermediate7 Basic
Show 9 findings ▾
Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. In the walk in cooler, 4 packages of commercially sealed fully thawed vacuum sealed grouper. Operator removed from walk in cooler.
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand wash sink at entrance to bar counter used to store wiping cloths.
Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. In the walk in cooler, 4 packages of commercially sealed fully thawed vacuum sealed grouper. Operator removed from walk in cooler.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employees phone on wire shelf over clean utensils. Operator relocated employee phone.
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. On shelf of prep area, clean plastic containers stacked while wet.
Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Microwave oven has burned food debris on rotating plate. Toaster oven in waitstation with burned food debris.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Debris build up on hood filter over fryers. Walk in cooler door gasket soiled.
Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Standing water at base of cookline flip top reach in cooler.
Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Raw alligator thawing in standing water at ambient air temperature on bottom of prep cart. Employee relocated to walk in cooler.
Sep 18, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 9 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority1 Intermediate6 Basic
Show 9 findings ▾
Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. In the walk in cooler, 5 individually packages of salmon and 4 individually packaged of tilapia fully thawed and sealed in reduced oxygen packaged bags. Discussed with operator to discard.
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. In warmer by bulk ice bin, chowder (122F - Hot Holding), warmer set on warm, operator adjusted settings to reheat.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Fryer baskets have build up of grease on basket wiring. Metal mixing bowls by fryer have grease build up under lip of bowl.
Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. Clean containers store on top shelf of storage rack not inverted or covered.
Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. In the walk in cooler, 5 individually packages of salmon and 4 individually packaged of tilapia fully thawed and sealed in reduced oxygen packaged bags. Discussed with operator to discard.
Food stored on floor. Bulk container of chips stored on the floor by the walk in cooler.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Cook line hood filters with grease/debris build up. Walk in cooler door gasket soiled.
Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Frozen Turkey thawing in standing water on ledge behind three compartment sink, discussed with employee to relocate to refrigeration or cold running water.
Utensils in poor condition. Pork skins container lid cracked.
Mar 5, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 8 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority3 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 8 findings ▾
No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Operator unable to find chlorine test kit for sanitizer buckets.
Non-pitting surface rust on food-contact equipment. Walk in cooler shelf with rust build up.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. In the walk in cooler; Turkey, Ham, Cornbeef, Coleslaw all labeled incorrectly with date of 2/2/2025. Operator made on 3/2 and had employee correct date marks.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on shelf over prep table by the flip top reach in cooler, employee discarded the beverage.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee apron stored on clean lids on shelf. Operator relocated the apron.
Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Microwave on cook line has debris build up. Toaster oven at pass through window with debris build up.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Build up of dust on cook line hood filters. Build up of grease and debris on backside of fryers.
Wiping cloth chlorine sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Sanitizer solution by bar entrance at 0ppm, per employee mixed with Lysol power cleaner. Discussed with employee.
Aug 28, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority2 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Fryer baskets with heavy build up of grease and food debris.
No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products. At time of inspection no functional probe thermometer available, probe thermometer on shelf not used with debris on the probe and glass display.
Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. In the walk in cooler employee lunch box stored on box of unwashed limes. Discussed alternative storage of personal food with operator.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee phone on kitchen crash cart with single service gloves. Operator relocated the employee phone.
Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Debris build up inside the cook line microwave and wait station toaster oven.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Kitchen cook line hood filters with dust build up. Back side of fryers has build up of grease around the top vent. Walk in cooler door gasket with mold like substance staining.
Stored food not covered. In the reach in freezer, shrimp skewers and Philly steaks stored uncovered. Operator covered the containers.
Jun 10, 2024□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Apr 9, 2024Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 6 recorded, 1 high priority.
1 High priority1 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. In the walk in cooler fully thawed vacuum packaged grouper, redfish and salmon in sealed bags. Discussed with operator that all vacuum packaged fish needs to be cut open or removed from packaging prior to thawing. Operator separated the fish to not be sold to the customers.
No proof of required state approved employee training provided for employee hired more than 60 days ago. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Two employees present at time of inspection both employed over 60 days with no valid food handler training certificates.
Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. In the walk in cooler fully thawed vacuum packaged grouper, redfish and salmon in sealed bags. Discussed with operator that all vacuum packaged fish needs to be cut open or removed from packaging prior to thawing. Operator separated the fish to not be sold to the customers.
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. On the storage shelf by the walk in cooler, clean containers stacked while wet.
Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Microwave on cook line and toaster oven at pass through window with food debris build up.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Build up of grease and debris on backside of fryers and hood system filters. Walk in cooler door gaskets have debris build up.
Aug 23, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority4 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observed cook exit side door with bucket, return inside, put on gloves and begin handling food with no hand wash. Spoke to employee during inspection.
Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Observed cook on line plate fries, handle plated sandwich with bare hands. Spoke to employee during inspection.
Handwash sink does not have enough water pressure to properly wash hands. Very low pressure at hand wash sink in kitchen at hot water side.
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Ice in hand wash sink in kitchen.
Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification. Two managers unable to provide current CFM, person in charge states has classes scheduled for end of the month.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened/prepared, frozen and then thawed and held at refrigeration temperature not properly date marked. Thawed pork thawed Sunday in walk in cooler not redate marked. Person in charge marked during inspection.
Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Observed pork thawing in bowls in standing water. Person in charge moved to walk in cooler.
Jul 26, 2023□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
This record follows the licence, not the owner. Restaurants change hands and the licence history normally does not, so an older entry may describe people who no longer run the place. Every inspection above links to the state's own report. Something wrong? Tell us.