Palmetto Boat Ramps & Ruskin Boat Ramps - Southeast Tampa Bay Boat Ramps

South East Tampa Bay could use some help from the state and the county as they've lost five boat ramps in the recent past. It appears that where money's been allocated, the work has not begun and for others there's been no progress. For some ramps there are extended wait times as people drive in from as far as Pasco County for their access to the bay.

We're very hopeful that this situation is remedied as there is certainly no shortage of boaters in the immediate area.

If you use any of these ramps regularly, we would appreciate your time in leaving your comments about the specific ramp at the bottom of the page.

Bishop Harbor Boat Ramp
Bishop Harbor Rd
Ruskin
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The Bishops Harbor boat ramp is located at the end of Bishop Harbor Rd. in Palmetto. It would be easy to miss if not for the boat trailers in the immediate area as it doesn't look much like a ramp. It's simply an area that slopes gently into the water that area boat owners have used for years.

In talking to an officer at the Cockroach Bay ramp, he indicated that money had been allocated for establishing a permanent ramp but that the work had never been begun.

It's difficult to imagine anything but a small flats boat, gheenoe, canoe, kayak or jet ski to be launch from there. As you can see from the images, even the jet skis being launched required both sets of wheels to get wet.

There is plenty of parking for those able to use the ramp in a dirt lot directly behind it and along the road Bishop Harbor Road.

Cockroach Bay
Cockroach Bay Rd
Ruskin
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The Cockroach Bay boat ramp is located at the end of Cockroach Bay Rd off of US 41 in Ruskin. The ramp appears to be well maintained but potholes have been reported to be a persistent problem. They are filled on occasion but  it only takes a month or so for them to open up again.

There is only one ramp and a ton of traffic so be prepared to get there early and then to wait. Personally, I can't remember seeing so many vehicles with trailers parked for one ramp nor can I imagine what it's like at the beginning or end of the day.

The ramp is long enough, steep enough, and the water deep enough to launch larger, deeper draft boats without problem. As with the other ramps in this area, there is signage to the effect that after launching you will be passing through protected manatee zones so please exit with caution.

It's pretty much a straight shot to the bay staying within the channel markers, from the ramp you're only three miles from the shipping channel.

Common Good Park Boat Ramp
121 NW 2nd St.
Ruskin, FL 33570
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Common Good Park is located on 1st Ave. NW and 2nd St. NW in Ruskin off of US 41. The ramp is nice and wide so two vehicles should be able to launch at the same time.

The ramp appears in very good condition with a decent incline that should be able to allow offshore boats to get in and out without too much difficulty. When talking to a gentleman at the ramp he said that the tides should be a consideration when launching a larger vessel and while we were there we saw about a 30' open fisherrnan getting ready to put in.

There's a dock on the North side of the ramp so that you can tie up while parking your vehicle if you're launching solo. There was a decent number of parking spaces within the park and there were vehicles with trailers parked along 1st Ave NW when we visited.

E G Simmons Park Boat Ramp
2401 19th Ave NW
Ruskin, FL 33570
(813) 671-7655
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EG Simmons park is located at the end of 19th Ave. NW off of US 41 in Ruskin. The park is open from 6AM to 7:30PM daily. There is a sign, when entering the park, that points you to the ramp as you enter the park. Head in that direction, and just keep going until you get to the back of the park.

There is only one ramp at the park but it is double wide and there is plenty of parking designated for vehicles with trailers. The ramp is by far the best maintained that we visited in the area and there was a place to tie up, if necessary, to park the vehicle if you're launching by yourself.