Saint Andrew Bay: depth, boat ramps and water quality
Boat: 16 ramps and launches on file for this water.
Start here: Launch at Saint Andrews State Park - Boat Ramp, 2 lanes, concrete.
The estuary
Saint Andrew Bay covers 11,516 acres in Florida, across Bay County. It is an estuary: the deepest point measured is 121 feet (36.9 m). Our records hold 17 species for this water.
Depth: down to 121 ft at the deepest measured point
Deepest measured point: 121 ft (36.9 m). We hold 372 depth contours for this water, drawn from 349,412 soundings.
16 ramps and launches on this water
On this water we hold 12 trailer ramps, 1 boat ramp, 3 hand launches, 6 fishing piers and 3 launches with restricted access.
- Saint Andrews State Park - Boat Ramp — 2 lanes, concrete, parking for 42 trailers (paved), paid, daylight hours, flush restrooms, dock, lit for night fishing, restrooms, wheelchair access. Panama City, Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 4607 State Park Lane (Thomas Drive / State Highway 39), Panama City 32408 · website floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/st-andrews-state-park
- Bayside Marina of Panama City Beach — 1 lane, marina, concrete, parking for 6 trailers (firm unpaved), paid, flush restrooms, dock, restrooms. On St. Andrew Bay - West Bay, Panama City Beach. 6327 Big Daddy Drive, Panama City Beach 32407
- Carl Gray Park Public Boat Ramp — 2 lanes, concrete, parking for 13 trailers (paved), no fee, open around the clock, flush restrooms, dock, wheelchair access. On St. Andrew Bay, Panama City, City of Panama City. W 22ND ST AND MOODY AVE, Panama City 32405
- 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
- Panama City Marina Public Boat Ramp — 2 lanes, concrete, parking for 12 trailers (paved), no fee, open around the clock, dock. Panama City, City of Panama City. 1 Harrison Avenue, Panama City 32401 · 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. Panama City, City of Panama City. 130 Church Avenue, Panama City 32401 · website baycountyfl.gov/289/Parks-Recreation
- St. Andrews City Marina Public Boat Ramp — 2 lanes, concrete, parking for 12 trailers (firm unpaved), no fee, open around the clock, dock. Panama City, City of Panama City. 11th Court and Bayview 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. 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. Panama City. 4630 Lake Drive, Panama City 32401 · website baycountyfl.gov/289/Parks-Recreation
- West Hathaway Bridge Wayside Park — 2 lanes, concrete, parking for 5 trailers (paved), no fee, open around the clock, needs repair. On St. Andrew Bay, Panama City Beach, Bay County. West end of Hathaway Bridge (US 98), Panama City Beach 32407 · website baycountyfl.gov/291/Boat-Ramp-Locations
Car-top and kayak launches — no trailer
- Jan Cooley Drive Paddlecraft Access — hand launch. Panama City, Bay County. website baycountyfl.gov/289/Parks-Recreation
- Under The Oaks Park Paddlecraft Beach — hand launch, concrete, parking for 6 cars, dock. Panama City, Bay County. website baycountyfl.gov/289/Parks-Recreation
- Saint Andrews State Park - Kayak Beach — hand launch, sand, parking for 42 trailers (paved), paid, daylight hours, flush restrooms, wheelchair access. Panama City, Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 4607 State Park Lane (Thomas Drive / State Highway 39), Panama City 32408 · website floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/st-andrews-state-park
Fishing piers
- FSU - Panama City Campus — no fee, daylight hours. On North Bay, Panama City, Florida State University.
- Panama City Marina — no fee, daylight hours. Panama City, City of Panama City. W end of Harrison Ave., Panama City 32401
- St. Andrews Marina — no fee, daylight hours. Panama City, Panama City. Bayview Ave. and W 10th St., Panama City 32401
- St. Andrews State Recreation Area - C. C. Tiller Memorial Pier — park entry fee, open 8am–sunset, lit for night fishing, restrooms, drinking water, monofilament recycling bin, wheelchair access. Panama City Beach, FL Department of Environmental Protection, State Parks. 5000 State Park Cr., Panama City Beach 32408
- St. Andrews State Recreation Area - Grand Lagoon Pier — park entry fee, open 8am–sunset, fish-cleaning table, restrooms, drinking water, wheelchair access. Panama City Beach, FL Department of Environmental Protection, State Parks. 4500 State Park Ln, Panama City Beach 32408
- Tyndall AFB - Felix Lake Recreational Fishing Pier — park entry fee, open around the clock. Tyndall Afb, U. S. Air Force. Road 33, 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. Panama City, United States Air Force - Tyndall AFB. Road 33, Panama City 32403 · phone (850) 527-2009 · website tyndall.isportsman.net
11 of the 19 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 6–20 feet on our readings, averaging 12.2 feet, from 1,504 readings. Water temperature averages 73°F across the year. The coldest single reading we hold is 49°F and the warmest is 95°F; the warmest monthly average is 88°F. pH averages 8.1. These readings span 2016–2025.
Monthly average water temperature: Jan 58°F · Feb 61°F · Mar 67°F · Apr 71°F · May 78°F · Jun 83°F · Jul 86°F · Aug 88°F · Sep 83°F · Oct 76°F · Nov 66°F · Dec 61°F
What is hard here
Wind is the limit, not the fish: 11,516 acres of open water build a short steep chop, and there is no shelter in the middle. Clarity swings from 6 to 20 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 88°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 Digital Coast — NOAA Digital Coast bathymetric lidar: class A, a survey of the bottom, 1983.
- 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 ENC — NOAA Electronic Navigational Charts: depth contours: 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.
