Fort DeSoto Park - Mullet Key Bayou - Paddlecraft Launch sits on Tampa Bay - Bunces Pass and serves as a dependable saltwater access point for anyone launching in Pinellas County. Whether you're chasing a morning bite or just getting the family out for a cruise, it puts you on the water fast. As of the last FWC inventory update, a launch fee applies here.
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At a glance
- County
- Pinellas
- City
- Saint Petersburg
- Waterbody
- Tampa Bay - Bunces Pass
- Water type
- Salt or Brackish Water
- Ramp type
- Hand Launch Only
- Ramp surface
- Natural Shoreline
- Dock
- No Dock
- Parking surface
- Not Paved - Grass/Loose Soil/Sand
- Restroom
- Flush Toilet
- Fee required
- Yes
- Managed by
- Pinellas County
- Status
- Open for Business
- Hours
- 7:00 AM to Sunset, Daily
Address: 3500 Pinellas Bayway South, Saint Petersburg, FL, 33715 · Coordinates: 27.620917, -82.7267
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.
- Parking and lane space can be tight on weekends; have your gear staged and your plug in before you back down.
- 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 Port Manatee, about 10 miles away. Here are today's predicted highs and lows (referenced to MLLW):
Boater discussion
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