East Bay: depth, boat ramps and water quality
Boat: 10 ramps and launches on file for this water.
Start here: Launch at Indian Creek Public Park and Boat Ramps (North Bayshore Drive), 1 lane, concrete.
The estuary
East Bay covers 7,910 acres in Florida, across Franklin County. It is an estuary: the deepest point measured is 22 feet (6.7 m). Our records hold 17 species for this water.
Depth: down to 22 ft at the deepest measured point
Deepest measured point: 22 ft (6.7 m). We hold 2 depth contours for this water, drawn from 266 soundings.
10 ramps and launches on this water
On this water we hold 3 trailer ramps and 7 hand launches.
- Indian Creek Public Park and Boat Ramps (North Bayshore Drive) — 1 lane, concrete, parking for 18 trailers (soft unpaved), no fee, open around the clock, dock. Eastpoint, Franklin County. 93 North Bayshore Drive, Eastpoint 32328 · phone (850) 653-8577 · website franklincountyparks.com/parks-recreation/county-parks
- Patton Drive Public Boat Ramp — 1 lane, concrete, parking for 5 trailers (paved), no fee, open around the clock, dock. Eastpoint, Franklin County. 340 Patton Drive, Eastpoint 32328 · phone (850) 653-8277 · website franklincountyparks.com/parks-recreation/county-parks
- Indian Creek Public Park and Boat Ramps (Old Ferry Dock) — 1 lane, concrete, parking for 4 trailers (firm unpaved), no fee, open around the clock, needs repair. Eastpoint, Franklin County. 93 North Bayshore Drive, Eastpoint 32328 · phone (850) 653-8577 · website franklincountyparks.com/parks-recreation/county-parks
Car-top and kayak launches — no trailer
- ANERR - Marion Millender Park Kayak Access — hand launch, sand, parking for 5 cars, no fee. Eastpoint, Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Millender Street, Eastpoint 32328 · website floridadep.gov/ANERR
- Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area - Sand Beach Recreation Area Kayak Launch — hand launch, no fee, dock. Eastpoint, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Sand Beach Road off State Road 65, Eastpoint 32328 · website myfwc.com/recreation/lead/apalachicola-river
- Tate's Hell State Forest - Doyle Creek Camp Canoe Access — hand launch. Eastpoint, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Doyle Creek Road, Eastpoint 32328 · website fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Tate-s-Hell-State-Forest
- Tate's Hell State Forest - Dry Bridge Camp Canoe Access — hand launch, sand. Eastpoint, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Dry Bridge Road, Eastpoint 32328 · website fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Tate-s-Hell-State-Forest
- Tate's Hell State Forest - Miller Landing Day Use Area Canoe Access — hand launch, sand. Eastpoint, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Miller Landing Road, Eastpoint 32328 · website fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Tate-s-Hell-State-Forest
- Tate's Hell State Forest - Rake Creek Camp Canoe Access — hand launch, sand. Eastpoint, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Rake Creek Road, Eastpoint 32328 · website fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Tate-s-Hell-State-Forest
- Tate's Hell State Forest - Whiskey George Creek Primitive Access (Smaller Boats Only) — hand launch, gravel, parking for 2 trailers (soft unpaved), no fee, needs repair. Eastpoint, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Highway 65 (east of the bridge over Whiskey George Creek), Eastpoint 32328 · website fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Tate-s-Hell-State-Forest
4 of the 10 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 1.6–4 feet on our readings, averaging 2.8 feet, from 30 readings. Water temperature averages 77°F across the year. The coldest single reading we hold is 36°F and the warmest is 89°F; the warmest monthly average is 85°F. pH averages 7.6. These readings span 2016–2025.
Monthly average water temperature: Jan 58°F · Feb 60°F · Mar 65°F · Apr 71°F · May 78°F · Jun 82°F · Jul 84°F · Aug 85°F · Sep 83°F · Oct 79°F · Nov 69°F · Dec 61°F
What is hard here
Wind is the limit, not the fish: 7,910 acres of open water build a short steep chop, and there is no shelter in the middle. Winter water drops to 58°F, and the warm-water species stop feeding well before you do. Summer water sits at 85°F: heat and afternoon lightning are the real risks, not the fishing.
Where this data comes from
- 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 BlueTopo: class A, a survey of the bottom.
- NOAA ENC — NOAA Electronic Navigational Charts: depth contours: class A, a survey of the bottom.
