Dark Island Public Boat Ramp

On Gulf Of America

The Gulf of America is the name the U.S. federal government uses for the part of the Gulf of Mexico in U.S. territorial waters. President Trump ordered the change in a January 2025 executive order. The whole gulf covers about 600,000 square miles, with an average depth of 5,299 feet and a maximum depth between 12,303 and 14,383 feet. The launches listed here are on Florida's west coast. Most are in the Big Bend region of Dixie and Taylor counties, and one is at Green Key near New Port Richey in Pasco County. The Dixie and Taylor County launches sit in or next to the Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve. Established in 1985, it is Florida's largest aquatic preserve at 984,325 acres and stretches more than 150 miles of coastline from Apalachee Bay south to the Withlacoochee River. More about Gulf Of America.

Boating rules on Gulf Of America

• Bay scallop harvest in the Fenholloway through Suwannee Rivers Zone (includes Keaton Beach and Steinhatchee) is open June 15 through Labor Day source
• Pasco Zone bay scallop season closed to harvest effective August 6, 2026 source

Community

Where people who use Gulf Of America talk about it.

• Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve Agency
• FWC Bay Scallops: Seasons and Bag Limits (closures and notices) Agency
• Fishing - BigBendFishing.Net Forum
• Search Reddit: r/florida Reddit
• Search all of Reddit for Gulf Of America, Florida Reddit

Nearby launches

• Keaton Beach Public Boat Ramp · 1.8 mi · Boggy Bay
• Hagen's Cove Primitive Airboat Ramp - Big Bend Wildlife Management Area · 2.0 mi · Hagens Cove
• Hagen's Cove Primitive Launch Ramp - Big Bend Wildlife Management Area (Small Boats) · 2.2 mi · Hagens Cove
• Adam's Beach Undeveloped Access Point · 6.0 mi · Gulf Of America
• Yates Creek Road Primitive Boat Launch (shallow tidal creek) · 7.5 mi · Yates Creek
• Dallus Creek - Big Bend Wildlife Management Area (Small Boats) · 8.3 mi · Dallus Creek