East Bay: depth, boat ramps and water quality

Boat: 10 ramps and launches on file for this water.
Start here: Launch at John B. Gore Park Public Boat Ramp, 2 lanes, concrete.

The estuary

East Bay covers 18,240 acres in Florida, across Bay County. It is an estuary: the deepest point measured is 62.3 feet (19 m). Our records hold 17 species for this water.

Depth: down to 62.3 ft at the deepest measured point

Deepest measured point: 62.3 ft (19 m). We hold 1 depth contour for this water, drawn from 143,490 soundings.

10 ramps and launches on this water

On this water we hold 9 trailer ramps, 1 hand launch, 3 fishing piers and 6 launches with restricted access.

  • John B. Gore Park Public Boat Ramp — 2 lanes, concrete, parking for 12 trailers (paved), no fee, flush restrooms, dock, lit for night fishing, restrooms, wheelchair access. Panama City. 600 BEULAH AVENUE, Panama City 32404
  • Earl Gilbert Park Public Boat Ramp — 1 lane, concrete, parking for 14 trailers (paved), no fee, flush restrooms, dock, lit for night fishing, wheelchair access. Panama City. 6511 Oak Shore Drive, Panama City 32404
  • Cook Bayou Marina — 1 lane, concrete, parking for 6 trailers (firm unpaved), paid, open around the clock, portable restrooms, dock, needs repair. Panama City. 11722 Bay Vista Rd, Panama City 32404 · website baycountyfl.gov/289/Parks-Recreation
  • Panama City Marina Public Boat Ramp — 2 lanes, concrete, parking for 12 trailers (paved), no fee, open around the clock, dock. On Saint Andrew Bay, Panama City, City of Panama City. 1 Harrison Avenue, Panama City 32401 · website baycountyfl.gov/291/Boat-Ramp-Locations
  • Maude Holmes Public Boat Ramp at Sandy Creek — 1 lane, concrete, parking for 17 trailers (paved), no fee, open around the clock, dock, wheelchair access. On Sandy Creek, Panama City, Bay County. Sandy Creek Road, Panama City 32404 · website baycountyfl.gov/291/Boat-Ramp-Locations
  • Bob George Park Public Boat Ramp — 1 lane, concrete, parking for 4 trailers (firm unpaved), no fee, open around the clock, dock. On Saint Andrew Bay, Panama City, City of Panama City. 130 Church Avenue, Panama City 32401 · website baycountyfl.gov/289/Parks-Recreation
  • Cherry Street Public Boat Ramp — 1 lane, concrete, parking for 10 trailers (paved), no fee, open around the clock, dock. On Lake Martin, Panama City. 4000 Cherry Street, Panama City 32404
  • Parker Environmental Exploratorium Park and Public Boat Ramp — 1 lane, concrete, parking for 4 trailers (paved), no fee, dock, needs repair. On Lake Martin, Panama City. 4630 Lake Drive, Panama City 32401 · website baycountyfl.gov/289/Parks-Recreation
  • Donaldson Point Public Boat Ramp — 1 lane, daylight hours. Parker (Panama City), City of Parker. Dover Rd. & Parkway Dr., Parker (Panama City) 32404

Car-top and kayak launches — no trailer

  • Under The Oaks Park Paddlecraft Beach — hand launch, concrete, parking for 6 cars, dock. Panama City, Bay County. website baycountyfl.gov/289/Parks-Recreation

Fishing piers

  • Panama City Marina — no fee, daylight hours. On Saint Andrew Bay, Panama City, City of Panama City. W end of Harrison Ave., Panama City 32401
  • Tyndall AFB - Felix Lake Recreational Fishing Pier — park entry fee, open around the clock. On Felix Lake, Tyndall Afb, U. S. Air Force. Road 33, Tyndall Afb 32403
  • Tyndall AFB - PQM Lake Recreational Fishing Pier — park entry fee, open around the clock. Tyndall Afb, U. S. Air Force. Camp Eagle, Tyndall Afb 32403

Restricted access — you cannot just drive up

  • Tyndall Air Force Base - Bonita Bay Boat Ramp — 2 lanes. Panama City, United States Air Force - Tyndall AFB. Tyndall Parkway, Panama City 32403 · phone (850) 527-2009 · website tyndall.isportsman.net
  • Tyndall Air Force Base - Dupont Bridge Boat Launch Beach — hand launch. Panama City, United States Air Force - Tyndall AFB. Tyndall Parkway, Panama City 32403 · phone (850) 527-2009 · website tyndall.isportsman.net
  • Tyndall Air Force Base - Felix Lake Boat Launch — 1 lane, gravel. On Felix Lake, Panama City, United States Air Force - Tyndall AFB. Road 33, Panama City 32403 · phone (850) 527-2009 · website tyndall.isportsman.net
  • Tyndall Air Force Base - PQM Lake Boat Launch — 1 lane, dirt. Panama City, United States Air Force - Tyndall AFB. Camp Eagle, Panama City 32403 · phone (850) 527-2009 · website tyndall.isportsman.net
  • Tyndall Air Force Base - STP Boat Launch — 2 lanes, concrete, parking for 8 trailers (paved). Panama City, United States Air Force - Tyndall AFB. phone (850) 527-2009 · website tyndall.isportsman.net
  • Tyndall Air Force Base - Strange Bayou Boat Launch — 1 lane, sand. Panama City, United States Air Force - Tyndall AFB. Road 11F, Panama City 32403 · phone (850) 527-2009 · website tyndall.isportsman.net

8 of the 13 places listed have both a fee and opening hours on file: a blank means we hold no such field, not that it is free or always open, and this list may not be complete.

Water and conditions

Water clarity runs 4–13.5 feet on our readings, averaging 8.3 feet, from 1,633 readings. Water temperature averages 76°F across the year. The coldest single reading we hold is 48°F and the warmest is 98°F; the warmest monthly average is 89°F. pH averages 7.8. These readings span 2016–2025.

Monthly average water temperature: Jan 58°F · Feb 65°F · Mar 70°F · Apr 74°F · May 80°F · Jun 86°F · Jul 89°F · Aug 87°F · Sep 84°F · Oct 79°F · Nov 66°F · Dec 63°F

What is hard here

Wind is the limit, not the fish: 18,240 acres of open water build a short steep chop, and there is no shelter in the middle. Clarity swings from 4 to 13.5 feet between our readings — the water you meet is not the water someone photographed. Winter water drops to 58°F, and the warm-water species stop feeding well before you do. Summer water sits at 89°F: heat and afternoon lightning are the real risks, not the fishing.

Where this data comes from

  • USACE eHydro — USACE eHydro channel surveys: class A, a survey of the bottom.
  • NOAA NOS Hydro — NOAA NOS hydrographic survey archive: class A, a survey of the bottom.
  • NOAA ENC — NOAA Electronic Navigational Charts: soundings: class A, a survey of the bottom.
  • NOAA National Bathymetric Source (S-102 ed3.0.0) — NOAA S-102 bathymetric surfaces: contours: class A, a survey of the bottom.
  • NOAA ENC — NOAA Electronic Navigational Charts: depth contours: class A, a survey of the bottom.
  • NOAA BlueTopo: class A, a survey of the bottom.