Frank Pate Park Boat Ramp
- 15 trailer spots
- 4 lanes
- Open 24 hours
The pay station takes credit or debit cards only, and your pass must be displayed.
The Short Answer
Port St. Joe and Cape San Blas wrap around St. Joseph Bay, a calm, clear, salty lagoon with seagrass across about a sixth of the bottom and one of Florida's three main scallop grounds. Boats launch at Frank Pate Park in town, Highland View, or Eagle Harbor in the state park, and paddlers use the Troy Deal and state park kayak launches. The Gulf County Zone was closed to scalloping for all of 2026 because of very low scallop numbers.
3Charters
5Public Ramps
4Rentals
1hFrom Panama City
Gulf County zone · Gulf County
Scallop Charters in Port St. Joe & Cape San Blas
All ChartersWhere to Launch
Boat Ramp Boat Ramp Bayview Picnic Area Kayak Launch (St. Joseph Peninsula State Park)
- 10 car spots
- 8:00 AM until Sunset
Hand launch only, for kayaks and paddleboards, on the bay side of the park.
Boat Ramp Eagle Harbor Boat Ramp (St. Joseph Peninsula State Park)
- 52 trailer spots
- 1 lane
- 8:00 AM until Sunset
The park gate opens at 8 AM, so this is not a pre-dawn launch.
Boat Ramp Highland View Public Boat Ramp
- Free launch
- 20 trailer spots
- 1 lane
A public launch into the St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve.
Boat Ramp Troy Deal Kayak Launch (St. Joseph Bay Buffer Preserve)
- Free launch
- 5 car spots
- 8:00 AM until Sunset
Hand launch only, with about 5 car spaces and no toilet.
Marina Point South Marina Port St. Joe
This rebuilt city marina sits on the east shore of St. Joseph Bay.
Boat Rental Happy Ours Kayak & Bike Outpost
Sits right on St. Joseph Bay and runs guided eco-tours, snorkeling and scalloping trips.
Boat Rental Presnell's Bayside Marina & RV Resort
The bay here is calm and shallow with thriving seagrass.
Boat Rental Scallop Cove Bait & Tackle
- Daily 8 AM to 5 PM ET
The General Store next door, 4310 Cape San Blas Road (850-227-1573), sells scalloping gear, ice and gas.
Boat Rental Scallop Cove Too (State Park Rentals)
- Daily 10 AM to 6 PM ET
The only authorized pontoon rental inside the state park, at the Eagle Harbor boat basin.
Tides This Week
Tides · St. Joseph Bay
High at 9:54 PM
- Low 6:36 AM
Check the tide before you leave the ramp. A falling tide can strand a boat on a shallow grass flat.
Today · Mon Oct 26
- Low 6:36 AM0.2 ft
- High 9:54 PM2.2 ft
Tue Oct 27
- Low 7:24 AM0.0 ft
- High 10:27 PM2.4 ft
Wed Oct 28
- Low 8:12 AM0.0 ft
- High 10:09 AM0.1 ft
- Low 12:12 PM0.0 ft
- High 11:03 PM2.4 ft
Thu Oct 29
- Low 1:00 PM-0.1 ft
- High 11:43 PM2.4 ft
Fri Oct 30
- Low 1:42 PM-0.1 ft
Sat Oct 31
- High 12:33 AM2.2 ft
- Low 2:25 PM0.0 ft
Sun Nov 1
- High 1:51 AM2.0 ft
- Low 2:13 PM0.1 ft
Show 30 DaysHide 30 Days
| Date | High Tides | Low Tides |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Nov 2 | 2:37 AM 1.8 ft | 3:07 PM 0.4 ft |
| Tue Nov 3 | 3:08 AM 1.5 ft9:47 PM 1.2 ft | 12:40 PM 0.6 ft |
| Wed Nov 4 | 3:40 AM 1.3 ft9:27 AM 1.3 ft10:06 PM 1.3 ft | 12:18 AM 1.0 ft7:07 AM 1.2 ft1:01 PM 0.7 ft |
| Thu Nov 5 | 4:17 AM 1.0 ft10:33 AM 1.2 ft10:24 PM 1.4 ft | 1:29 AM 0.8 ft7:14 AM 0.9 ft1:28 PM 0.8 ft |
| Fri Nov 6 | 5:00 AM 0.7 ft11:46 AM 1.1 ft6:53 PM 1.6 ft | 2:48 AM 0.6 ft7:27 AM 0.6 ft2:00 PM 0.9 ft |
| Sat Nov 7 | 7:42 PM 1.8 ft | 7:36 AM 0.4 ft |
| Sun Nov 8 | 8:25 PM 2.0 ft | 4:54 AM 0.2 ft |
| Mon Nov 9 | 8:59 PM 2.0 ft | 5:38 AM 0.1 ft |
| Tue Nov 10 | 9:29 PM 2.1 ft | 6:19 AM 0.0 ft |
| Wed Nov 11 | 9:57 PM 2.0 ft | 6:58 AM 0.0 ft |
| Thu Nov 12 | 10:24 PM 2.0 ft | 11:25 AM 0.1 ft |
| Fri Nov 13 | 10:53 PM 1.9 ft | 11:56 AM 0.1 ft |
| Sat Nov 14 | None | 12:25 PM 0.1 ft |
| Sun Nov 15 | 2:04 AM 1.7 ft | 12:54 PM 0.1 ft |
| Mon Nov 16 | 2:51 AM 1.6 ft | 1:20 PM 0.2 ft |
| Tue Nov 17 | 3:28 AM 1.5 ft | 1:04 PM 0.3 ft |
| Wed Nov 18 | 2:19 AM 1.3 ft9:56 PM 1.1 ft | 12:30 PM 0.5 ft |
| Thu Nov 19 | 2:45 AM 1.0 ft9:35 PM 1.1 ft | 12:30 AM 0.9 ft12:41 PM 0.6 ft |
| Fri Nov 20 | 10:38 AM 0.8 ft8:13 PM 1.3 ft | 5:34 AM 0.7 ft12:56 PM 0.7 ft |
| Sat Nov 21 | 8:19 PM 1.6 ft | 6:11 AM 0.3 ft |
| Sun Nov 22 | 8:11 PM 1.8 ft | 6:48 AM 0.0 ft |
| Mon Nov 23 | 8:12 PM 2.0 ft | 7:25 AM -0.2 ft |
| Tue Nov 24 | 8:46 PM 2.2 ft | 8:12 AM -0.4 ft |
Predicted tides from NOAA station Port Saint Joe, St. Joseph Bay. Wind can push the water higher or lower than predicted. NOAA Station Page ↗
Local Know-How
- There was no 2026 season here. FWC closed the Gulf County Zone on Aug. 13, 2026, three days before the Aug. 16 opener, after a summer survey in St. Joseph Bay found very low scallop numbers and after a long red tide in Gulf County waters from October to December 2025, during spawning. FWC plans to monitor the bay and work with the community on restoration, and as of late October 2026 no 2027 dates had been announced.
- St. Joseph Bay scallops swing hard from year to year, on rough 5 to 7 year cycles. FWC stopped publishing pre-season counts in 2019 and now leans on post-season counts and habitat. The bay also had a shortened, smaller-limit season in 2016 after a 2015 red tide.
- If you live outside Gulf County, plan on $20 a day at the Frank Pate Park pay station, which takes credit or debit cards only. Gulf County residents launch free with the city's free annual pass. The ramp has its own scallop season traffic route, so expect a line in season.
- Much of the bay is shallow grass. Stay out of very shallow water and raise the motor over seagrass, since seagrass damage in the aquatic preserve can bring a fine of up to $1,000.
- Look for scallops in 4 to 8 feet of clear water around seagrass and along the edges of sandy patches. If you wade from shore, a no-cost shoreline license covers you, but anyone who swims, snorkels or uses a boat or kayak needs a full saltwater license.
Getting Them Cleaned
- No paid scallop cleaner could be confirmed here. Some charters shuck for their own guests, so ask before you book.
- Presnell's Bayside Marina has self-serve scallop cleaning stations for its guests.
Drive times: about 1 hour from Panama City, about 2 hours 30 minutes from Tallahassee.
Every town on the scallop coast
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