San Carlos Bay: depth, boat ramps and water quality
Boat: 9 ramps and launches on file for this water.
Start here: Launch at Frizzell-Kontinos Boat Ramp at Punta Rassa, 4 lanes, concrete.
The estuary
San Carlos Bay covers 14,555 acres in Florida, across Lee County. It is an estuary: the deepest point measured is at least 28 feet (8.5 m). Our records hold 19 species for this water.
Depth and bottom
Deepest measured point: at least 28 ft (8.5 m). That is the deepest contour line: the bottom goes deeper. We hold 1 depth contour for this water, drawn from 29,095 soundings.
Water and conditions
Water clarity runs 3.3–9.5 feet on our readings, averaging 6 feet, from 544 readings. Water temperature averages 78°F across the year. The coldest single reading we hold is 56°F and the warmest is 95°F; the warmest monthly average is 87°F. pH averages 8. These readings span 2016–2026.
Monthly average water temperature: Jan 66°F · Feb 70°F · Mar 73°F · Apr 77°F · May 82°F · Jun 86°F · Jul 87°F · Aug 87°F · Sep 86°F · Oct 81°F · Nov 75°F · Dec 70°F
9 ramps and launches on this water
On this water we hold 3 trailer ramps, 6 hand launches and 3 fishing piers.
- Frizzell-Kontinos Boat Ramp at Punta Rassa — 4 lanes, concrete, parking for 93 trailers (paved), paid, open around the clock, flush restrooms, dock, wheelchair access. Fort Myers, Lee County. 15001 Punta Rassa Road, Fort Myers 33908 · website leegov.com/parks/boat%20Ramps/puntarassa
- Sanibel Island Public Boat Ramp — 2 lanes, concrete, parking for 42 trailers (firm unpaved), paid, open around the clock, flush restrooms, dock. Sanibel, City of Sanibel. Bailey Rd (next to causeway), Sanibel 33957 · website mysanibel.com/Departments/Community-Services-Department/Public-Works-Including-Utility-and-Parks-Maintenance/Parks-Public-Beaches/Public-Beach-Park-Information
- Monroe Canal Marina — 1 lane, concrete, parking for 12 trailers (firm unpaved), paid, portable restrooms, dock, needs repair. Saint James City. 3105 Stringfellow Rd, Saint James City 33956 · website monroecanalmarina.com
Car-top and kayak launches — no trailer
- Galt Nature Preserve Kayak Launch — hand launch, concrete, parking for 4 trailers (paved), no fee. Saint James City, Lee County. 3661 Stringfellow Road, Saint James City 33956 · website leegov.com/parks/preserves/galt
- Sanibel Causeway Islands Park - Island A Paddlecraft Access — hand launch, sand, parking for 50 cars, no fee, daylight hours, portable restrooms. Fort Myers, Lee County. 19931 Sanibel Causeway Rd, Fort Myers 33908 · website leegov.com/parks/beaches/causeway
- Sanibel Causeway Islands Park - Island B Paddlecraft Access — hand launch, sand, parking for 50 cars, no fee, daylight hours, portable restrooms. Sanibel, Lee County. 19931 Sanibel Causeway Rd 33957 · website leegov.com/parks/beaches/causeway
- St. Jude Nature Trail - St. James Creek Preserve - Kayak Access (Long Portage) — hand launch, sand, parking for 4 cars, no fee. Saint James City, Calusa Land Trust. 3542 Stabile Road, Saint James City 33956 · phone (239) 283-3871 · website calusalandtrust.org/trails
- Bowditch Point Park Kayak Launch — hand launch, sand, parking for 50 cars, paid, daylight hours. Fort Myers Beach, Lee County. 50 Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach 33931 · website leegov.com/parks/beaches/bowditchpoint
- San Carlos Bay Bunche Beach Preserve Paddle Craft Launch — hand launch, concrete, parking for 88 cars, paid, daylight hours. Fort Myers, Lee County. 17950 John Morris Road, Fort Myers 33908 · website leegov.com/parks/beaches/bunche
Fishing piers
- Galt Preserve — no fee, open 8am–6pm. Saint James City, Lee County. 3661 Stringfellow Rd., Saint James City 33956
- San Carlos Bay Bunche Beach Preserve — park entry fee, daylight hours. Fort Myers, Lee County. 18201 John Morris Rd., Fort Myers 33908
- Sanibel Island Fishing pier — no fee, open around the clock. Sanibel, City of Sanibel. 100 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel 33957
9 of the 12 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: 14,555 acres of open water build a short steep chop, and there is no shelter in the middle. Summer water sits at 87°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.
- 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.
