Saint Joseph Bay: depth, boat ramps and water quality

Estuary · Florida · Port Saint Joe, 3.3 mi away

Saint Joseph Bay, Florida: 6 trailer ramps. 43 ft at the deepest measured point.

Saint Joseph Bay: depth, boat ramps and water quality 1

Saint Joseph Bay: depth, boat ramps and water quality 2

Saint Joseph Bay: depth, boat ramps and water quality 3

Estuary

Surface area: 43,654 acres68.2 mi²from the mapped waterbody polygon; varies with water level
Maximum depth: 43 ftfrom the surveydeep
Average depth: 8.5 ft
Fish species: 17
Access points: 6
Access: open to the public
Nearest town: Port Saint Joe3.3 mi

Water claritynow 7.3 ft

Saint Joseph Bay: depth, boat ramps and water quality

Boat: 6 ramps and launches on file for this water.
Start here: Launch at Frank Pate Park at Port St. Joe, 4 lanes, concrete.

The estuary

Saint Joseph Bay covers 43,654 acres in Florida, across Gulf County. It is an estuary: the deepest point measured is 43 feet (13.1 m). Our records hold 17 species for this water.

Depth: down to 43 ft at the deepest measured point

Deepest measured point: 43 ft (13.1 m). We hold 857 depth contours for this water, drawn from 306,953 soundings.

Saint Joseph Bay from Salinas Park.jpg — The Bushranger · CC BY-SA 4.0

Water and conditions

Water clarity runs 3–12 feet on our readings, averaging 6.9 feet, from 583 readings. Water temperature averages 72°F across the year. The coldest single reading we hold is 49°F and the warmest is 90°F; the warmest monthly average is 87°F. pH averages 8. These readings span 2016–2025.

Monthly average water temperature: Jan 59°F · Feb 63°F · Mar 67°F · Apr 73°F · May 76°F · Jun 82°F · Jul 84°F · Aug 87°F · Sep 84°F · Oct 75°F · Nov 63°F · Dec 62°F

PSJ FL US 98 south01.jpg — Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0

6 ramps and launches on this water

On this water we hold 4 trailer ramps and 2 hand launches.

Frank Pate Park at Port St. Joe — 4 lanes, concrete, parking for 15 trailers (paved), paid, open around the clock, flush restrooms, dock, wheelchair access. Port Saint Joe. 100 Fifth Street, Port Saint Joe 32456 · phone (850) 229-8261 · website cityofportstjoe.com/frank-pate-park.cfm
T. H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park - Boat Ramp and Kayak Access — 1 lane, concrete, parking for 52 trailers (paved), paid, daylight hours, flush restrooms, dock, lit for night fishing, wheelchair access. Port Saint Joe, Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 8899 Cape San Blas Road, Port Saint Joe 32456 · website floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/th-stone-memorial-st-joseph-peninsula-state-park
Highland View Public Boat Ramp — 1 lane, concrete, parking for 20 trailers (firm unpaved), open around the clock, flush restrooms, dock, restrooms, wheelchair access. Port Saint Joe, Gulf County. U.S. Highway 98, Port Saint Joe 32456 · website visitgulf.com/boatramps
Presnell's Marina — 1 lane, restrooms. Port St. Joe. 2115 HIGHWAY C-30, Port St. Joe 32456

Car-top and kayak launches — no trailer

PSJ FL US 98 St Joseph Bay01.jpg — Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0

St. Joseph Bay Aquatic and Buffer Preserve Troy Deal Canoe Launch — hand launch, sand, no fee, daylight hours. Port Saint Joe, Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 3599 Cape San Blas Rd, Port Saint Joe 32456 · website floridadep.gov/rcp/aquatic-preserve/locations/st-joseph-bay-aquatic-preserve
T.H. Stone Memorial Joseph Peninsula State Park- Bayview Picnic Area Kayak Launch — hand launch, natural bank, paid, daylight hours. Port Saint Joe, Florida Deaprtment of Environmental Protection. 100-262 Cabin Rd, Port Saint Joe 32456 · website floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/th-stone-memorial-st-joseph-peninsula-state-park

4 of the 6 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

Wind is the limit, not the fish: 43,654 acres of open water build a short steep chop, and there is no shelter in the middle. Clarity swings from 3 to 12 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 87°F: heat and afternoon lightning are the real risks, not the fishing.

Where this data comes from

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.
USACE eHydro — USACE eHydro channel surveys: 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: soundings: class A, a survey of the bottom.
NOAA ENC — NOAA Electronic Navigational Charts: depth contours: class A, a survey of the bottom.

6 access points on this water. Tap a row to find it on the map.

Trailer ramps · 4

You can back a trailer down these.

Ramp	Lanes	Trailer spaces	Surface	Dock	Restroom	Fee	Hours
Frank Pate Park at Port St. Joe100 Fifth Street, PORT SAINT JOE	4	15	Concrete	Fixed	Flush	paid	24 hours
T. H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park - Boat Ramp and Kayak Access8899 Cape San Blas Road, PORT SAINT JOE	1	52	Concrete	Fixed	Flush	paid	8:00 AM until Sunset, 365 days a year
Highland View Public Boat RampU.S. Highway 98, PORT SAINT JOE	1	20	Concrete	Fixed	Flush	paid	24 hours
Presnell's Marina2115 HIGHWAY C-30, Port St. Joe	1	—	—	—	—	—	—

Car-top and kayak launches · 2

No trailer here — you carry the boat in.

Place	Surface	Restroom	Fee	Hours	Show on map
St. Joseph Bay Aquatic and Buffer Preserve Troy Deal Canoe Launch3599 Cape San Blas Rd, PORT SAINT JOE	Sand	None	free	8:00 AM until Sunset, 365 days a year
T.H. Stone Memorial Joseph Peninsula State Park- Bayview Picnic Area Kayak Launch100-262 Cabin Rd, PORT SAINT JOE	Natural bank	None	paid	8:00 AM until Sunset, 365 days a year

Campgrounds by Saint Joseph Bay — closest to the water first. Tap a row to see it on the map; the link goes to the campground's official page.

Campground	Run by	To the water	Official page
T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park — Primitive7 sites	State park	right on the bank	Official page
T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park — Youth Camping Area1 site	State park	250 ft	Official page
T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park — Shady Pines60 sitesreservable	State park	0.2 mi	Official page

Tackle and bait shops and boat, kayak and canoe rentals near Saint Joseph Bay. Hours, phones and websites come from OpenStreetMap — check before you go.