Rocky Bayou: depth, boat ramps and water quality
Boat: 3 ramps and launches on file for this water.
Start here: Launch at Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park - Boat Ramp, 2 lanes, concrete.
The estuary
Rocky Bayou covers 764 acres in Florida, across Okaloosa County. It is an estuary: the deepest point measured is 21.3 feet (6.5 m). Our records hold 17 species for this water.
Depth: down to 21.3 ft at the deepest measured point
Deepest measured point: 21.3 ft (6.5 m). We hold 120 depth contours for this water, drawn from 1,628 soundings.
Water and conditions
Water clarity runs 1.8–8.8 feet on our readings, averaging 5.6 feet, from 498 readings. Water temperature averages 75°F across the year. The coldest single reading we hold is 50°F and the warmest is 93°F; the warmest monthly average is 86°F. pH averages 7.7. These readings span 2016–2025.
Monthly average water temperature: Jan 59°F · Feb 63°F · Mar 66°F · Apr 72°F · May 80°F · Jun 83°F · Jul 86°F · Aug 86°F · Sep 84°F · Oct 77°F · Nov 68°F · Dec 61°F
3 ramps and launches on this water
On this water we hold 2 trailer ramps and 1 hand launch.
- Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park - Boat Ramp — 2 lanes, concrete, parking for 28 trailers (paved), paid, daylight hours, dock. Niceville, Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 4281 East Highway 20, Niceville 32578 · website floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/fred-gannon-rocky-bayou-state-park
- Swift Bayou - Edrehi Avenue Boat Ramp — 1 lane, concrete, parking for 5 trailers (paved), needs repair. Niceville, Okaloosa County. 213 Edrehi Avenue, Niceville 32578 · website myokaloosa.com/pw/parks/list
Car-top and kayak launches — no trailer
- Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park - Kayak Beach — hand launch, sand, parking for 25 cars, paid, daylight hours, flush restrooms. Niceville, Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 4281 East Highway 20, Niceville 32578 · website floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/fred-gannon-rocky-bayou-state-park
2 of the 3 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.
What is hard here
Clarity swings from 1.8 to 8.8 feet between our readings — the water you meet is not the water someone photographed. Winter water drops to 59°F, and the warm-water species stop feeding well before you do. Summer water sits at 86°F: heat and afternoon lightning are the real risks, not the fishing.
Where this data comes from
- NOAA NOS Hydro — NOAA NOS hydrographic survey archive: class A, a survey of the bottom.
- NOAA BlueTopo: 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: soundings: class A, a survey of the bottom.
- NOAA ENC — NOAA Electronic Navigational Charts: depth contours: class A, a survey of the bottom.
