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Gulf Coast Scalloping
St. Marks Lighthouse above the salt marsh and Apalachee Bay

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St. Marks & Shell Point

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The Short Answer

St. Marks and Shell Point are Wakulla County's main launches for the grass flats of Apalachee Bay, in the open Franklin to northwest Taylor zone (July 1 to Sept. 24 in 2026). Boats leave from the St. Marks River ramp and marinas in town, the refuge ramp at Lighthouse Point, or the county ramp at Shell Point. Expect shallow water: most scallop trips here are in less than 4 feet.

6Charters
5Public Ramps
2Rentals
30mFrom Tallahassee

Franklin-NW Taylor zone · Wakulla County

Scallop Charters in St. Marks & Shell Point

All Charters

Where to Launch

  • Boat Ramp

    Lighthouse Point Boat Ramp (St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge)

    • 34 trailer spots
    • 2 lanes
    • Daylight hours

    Right on Apalachee Bay by the St. Marks Lighthouse, so there is no long river run.

    Ramp Details

  • Boat Ramp

    St. Marks River Park Boat Ramp

    • $10 per launch
    • 41 trailer spots
    • 3 lanes

    Staff work the ramp at busy times and sell annual passes there.

    Ramp Details

  • Boat Ramp

    Shell Point Beach Kayak and Hobie Cat Launch

    • $5 Wakulla County daily permit
    • 4 trailer spots
    • Beach park open 6 AM to midnight

    Kayaks and Hobie Cats only; trailered boats use the Shell Point Public Boat Ramp nearby.

    Website ↗

  • Boat Ramp

    Shell Point Public Boat Ramp

    • $5 Wakulla County daily permit
    • 20 trailer spots
    • 1 lane

    Near Shell Point Beach, where the water is shallow and clear.

    Website ↗

  • Boat Ramp

    Wakulla Beach Primitive Boat Launch (St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge)

    • Free launch
    • 6 trailer spots
    • 1 lane

    A tidal beach launch onto Apalachee Bay, good for small boats year-round.

  • Marina

    Shell Island Fish Camp & Marina

    • $3 launch, paid to the attendant
    • 1 lane
    • 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM

    Old Florida fish camp on the St. Marks River with its own ramp, fuel and bait.

    Website ↗(850) 925-6226

  • Marina

    Shields Marina

    • 2 lanes
    • Tuesday to Sunday 7 AM to 7 PM ET

    Full-service marina on the St. Marks River since 1952.

    Website ↗(850) 925-6158

  • Boat Rental

    Shell Island Fish Camp Boat Rentals

    • 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM

    Rents center console boats by the day from its St. Marks River camp.

    Website ↗(850) 925-6226

  • Boat Rental

    Shields Marina Rentals

    • Tuesday to Sunday 7 AM to 7 PM ET

    No boating license is needed to rent by the half or full day.

    Website ↗(850) 925-6158

Tides This Week

Tides · St. Marks River Entrance

High at 3:30 PM

  • Low 8:52 AM
  • Low 8:49 PM

Check the tide before you leave the ramp. A falling tide can strand a boat on a shallow grass flat.

  1. Today · Mon Oct 26

    • High 1:59 AM3.9 ft
    • Low 8:52 AM-0.5 ft
    • High 3:30 PM3.8 ft
    • Low 8:49 PM1.4 ft

  2. Tue Oct 27

    • High 2:28 AM4.0 ft
    • Low 9:34 AM-0.7 ft
    • High 4:15 PM3.7 ft
    • Low 9:22 PM1.6 ft

  3. Wed Oct 28

    • High 3:00 AM4.2 ft
    • Low 10:18 AM-0.7 ft
    • High 5:03 PM3.5 ft
    • Low 9:57 PM1.7 ft

  4. Thu Oct 29

    • High 3:36 AM4.2 ft
    • Low 11:08 AM-0.6 ft
    • High 5:55 PM3.2 ft
    • Low 10:35 PM1.8 ft

  5. Fri Oct 30

    • High 4:18 AM4.1 ft
    • Low 12:04 PM-0.3 ft
    • High 6:55 PM2.9 ft
    • Low 11:22 PM1.9 ft

  6. Sat Oct 31

    • High 5:06 AM3.8 ft
    • Low 1:09 PM0.0 ft
    • High 8:05 PM2.7 ft

  7. Sun Nov 1

    • Low 12:25 AM2.0 ft
    • High 5:09 AM3.5 ft
    • Low 1:24 PM0.4 ft
    • High 8:21 PM2.7 ft
Show 30 Days
Predicted high and low tides, Mon Nov 2 to Tue Nov 24
DateHigh TidesLow Tides
Mon Nov 26:47 AM 3.1 ft9:25 PM 2.8 ft12:59 AM 1.9 ft2:42 PM 0.6 ft
Tue Nov 38:59 AM 2.9 ft10:14 PM 3.0 ft2:47 AM 1.6 ft3:50 PM 0.8 ft
Wed Nov 410:33 AM 3.0 ft10:53 PM 3.2 ft4:11 AM 1.1 ft4:45 PM 1.0 ft
Thu Nov 511:37 AM 3.2 ft11:27 PM 3.4 ft5:11 AM 0.6 ft5:28 PM 1.2 ft
Fri Nov 612:28 PM 3.3 ft11:59 PM 3.6 ft5:59 AM 0.1 ft6:04 PM 1.3 ft
Sat Nov 71:10 PM 3.3 ft6:41 AM -0.2 ft6:35 PM 1.4 ft
Sun Nov 812:28 AM 3.7 ft1:49 PM 3.3 ft7:20 AM -0.4 ft7:04 PM 1.5 ft
Mon Nov 912:56 AM 3.7 ft2:24 PM 3.3 ft7:57 AM -0.4 ft7:33 PM 1.5 ft
Tue Nov 101:24 AM 3.7 ft2:59 PM 3.2 ft8:33 AM -0.4 ft8:03 PM 1.5 ft
Wed Nov 111:52 AM 3.6 ft3:35 PM 3.1 ft9:09 AM -0.3 ft8:34 PM 1.6 ft
Thu Nov 122:21 AM 3.6 ft4:13 PM 3.0 ft9:45 AM -0.1 ft9:09 PM 1.6 ft
Fri Nov 132:52 AM 3.4 ft4:55 PM 2.9 ft10:24 AM 0.0 ft9:47 PM 1.7 ft
Sat Nov 143:27 AM 3.3 ft5:43 PM 2.8 ft11:06 AM 0.2 ft10:34 PM 1.7 ft
Sun Nov 154:08 AM 3.1 ft6:39 PM 2.7 ft11:55 AM 0.4 ft11:36 PM 1.8 ft
Mon Nov 165:03 AM 2.9 ft7:41 PM 2.7 ft12:51 PM 0.6 ft
Tue Nov 176:27 AM 2.6 ft8:40 PM 2.8 ft12:59 AM 1.8 ft1:53 PM 0.7 ft
Wed Nov 188:22 AM 2.6 ft9:28 PM 2.9 ft2:30 AM 1.5 ft2:54 PM 0.9 ft
Thu Nov 199:55 AM 2.7 ft10:06 PM 3.0 ft3:43 AM 1.1 ft3:50 PM 1.0 ft
Fri Nov 2011:03 AM 3.0 ft10:40 PM 3.2 ft4:38 AM 0.6 ft4:40 PM 1.1 ft
Sat Nov 2112:00 PM 3.2 ft11:12 PM 3.4 ft5:26 AM 0.1 ft5:25 PM 1.2 ft
Sun Nov 2212:52 PM 3.4 ft11:46 PM 3.6 ft6:11 AM -0.4 ft6:06 PM 1.4 ft
Mon Nov 231:41 PM 3.5 ft6:56 AM -0.8 ft6:46 PM 1.5 ft
Tue Nov 2412:22 AM 3.8 ft2:29 PM 3.5 ft7:41 AM -1.1 ft7:25 PM 1.6 ft

Predicted tides from NOAA station St. Marks River Entrance. Wind can push the water higher or lower than predicted. NOAA Station Page ↗

Local Know-How

  1. The St. Marks River Park ramp belongs to the city, not the county. It charges $10 per launch and does not take the Wakulla County boat pass, and city annual stickers run $75 for county residents and $105 for visitors. The county's $5 daily or $40 annual permit covers Shell Point instead.
  2. Lighthouse Point puts you right on Apalachee Bay with no river run, but it is inside St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. Plan on a $5 per vehicle entrance fee (or a $25 annual refuge pass), and know that the Lighthouse Road gate does not open until 6 AM.
  3. The water here is shallow, and most scallop trips with St. Marks Outfitters are in less than 4 feet of water. The season gets busy, so book a guide early.
  4. At Shell Point, trailered boats use the county ramp on Shell Point Road, and the beach launch is for kayaks and Hobie Cats only. Check the Wakulla County Health Department beach water quality reports for Shell Point before a swim day.
  5. The flats off St. Marks are part of the Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve, one of the largest continuous seagrass meadows in the Gulf. Raise the motor over grass, since damage can bring a fine of up to $1,000.

Getting Them Cleaned

  • No paid scallop cleaning service was found at St. Marks or Shell Point. Plan to clean your own catch.
  • Shell Island Fish Camp in St. Marks has a self-serve fish cleaning station.

Drive times: about 30 minutes from Tallahassee, about 2 hours 30 minutes from Panama City.

Other Towns in This Zone

Franklin-NW Taylor

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