For Hillsborough County anglers, Picnic Island Park - Public Boat Ramp is a go-to saltwater ramp on Tampa Bay - Old Tampa Bay - Eastern Shore. The surrounding water rewards early starts, and this launch keeps you close to the action without a long idle out to the good stuff. With 2 launch lanes, it can handle a busy weekend crowd without the usual bottleneck. As of the last FWC inventory update, launching is free here.
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At a glance
- County
- Hillsborough
- City
- Tampa
- Waterbody
- Tampa Bay - Old Tampa Bay - Eastern Shore
- Water type
- Salt or Brackish Water
- Ramp type
- Stand Alone Ramp
- Launch lanes
- 2
- Ramp surface
- Concrete
- Dock
- Both Launch and Staging Dock
- Parking surface
- Paved - Asphalt or Concrete
- Trailer parking
- 13
- Restroom
- Portable Toilet
- Fee required
- No
- Managed by
- City of Tampa
- Status
- Open for Business
- Hours
- 24 Hours
Address: 7409 Picnic Island Boulevard, Tampa, FL, 33616 · Coordinates: 27.857814, -82.551634
Get directions on Google Maps →
Where it is
Live NEXRAD radar from Iowa State Mesonet — past ~65 minutes animated. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Ramp location from the FWC boat ramp inventory. Not for navigation.
On-water restrictions nearby
No mapped state manatee-protection or boating-safety zones were found within 500 m of this ramp in the current FWC dataset. This does not mean the area is unrestricted — posted signs and other local, state, or federal rules may still apply.
Restriction zones: For general awareness only — not for navigation or legal determination. Florida Administrative Code and posted on-water signs prevail. Other local, state, or federal restricted zones may exist that are not shown here. Source: FWC manatee protection & boating-safety GIS layers. Zone data as of .
What to know before you launch
- Rinse your trailer and engine with fresh water after launching in salt — corrosion is the enemy on Florida's coast.
- Even with multiple lanes, prep in the staging area first so you're not tying up a lane while loading gear.
- Always check current tides, wind, and marine forecasts before you launch — Florida afternoons can turn stormy fast.
Tides at the nearest station
The closest NOAA tide station is Old Port Tampa, about 0 miles away. Here are today's predicted highs and lows (referenced to MLLW):
Boater discussion
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