Highland View Park and Boat Ramp Fishing

Highland View Park and Boat Ramp gives shore anglers the current and sand bars under the Tapper Bridge, a local inshore favorite around Port St. Joe.

• Trout and redfish under the US 98 bridge most of the year
• Flounder, pompano and ladyfish in the warm months, and tarpon rolling in late summer
• A county boat ramp and fixed dock, restrooms and picnic tables
• Open around the clock with no fee, according to the FWC's ramp inventory

The park is in Highland View, on the west bank of the Gulf County Canal where it meets St. Joseph Bay, under and beside the US 98 bridge north of Port St. Joe.

• Getting there: follow US 98 from Port St. Joe toward Mexico Beach; the ramp is off the highway at the Highland View end of the canal bridge
• Parking: unpaved parking at the ramp, shared with boat trailers
• Entry: no fee, open 24 hours
• The walk: a few steps from the car to the ramp, dock and shoreline under the bridge
• Stay on public ground and follow any posted signs

A Port St. Joe tackle shop's 2026 fishing reports describe trout and reds under the bridge from spring into fall, with flounder, pompano, ladyfish and blue crabs in season.

• Spring (Mar-May): speckled trout on light jigs in the evenings, redfish, pompano passing through, sheepshead around structure
• Summer (Jun-Aug): trout and reds at dawn and dusk, ladyfish, flounder, tarpon rolling in the canal
• Fall (Sep-Nov): redfish and flounder as bait leaves the bay; trout feeding hard
• Winter (Dec-Feb): trout and reds in the deeper canal water on mild days; sheepshead and black drum

Light spinning tackle is the local choice: an ultralight or light 7 foot rod, light braid and a fluorocarbon leader.

• Trout: a small soft plastic or shrimp imitation on a 1/15 to 1/8 oz jighead, rolled along with the current
• Redfish: a jerk shad on a 3/16 oz weighted swimbait hook, or live shrimp on the bottom
• Live bait: small pinfish on a size 1 circle hook for reds and big trout
• Flounder: skip a jerk shad slowly along the bottom
• Ladyfish and pompano: small jigs worked through the current

St. Joseph Bay's tides are small, often only one a day, but the canal still carries a steady current past the bridge.

• The incoming tide into dusk is a local favorite
• Very low tides with little current fish poorly
• Morning high tides have produced good trout bites
• Low light is best in summer heat
• Red tide sometimes reaches the bay, as in fall 2025; check the FWC's reports if fish seem scarce

The spot is easy to reach but busy with boats and, in summer, people.

• Watch for boats in the canal and at the ramp, and never cast across the launch lane
• The current runs hard under the bridge; wade with care and do not swim
• Shuffle your feet for stingrays on the sand bars
• Leave the water at the first thunder
• The FWC rates the ramp's accessibility as moderate, with an accessible restroom

Gulf County's tourism office lists a boat ramp, picnic tables and bathrooms, and the FWC adds a fixed dock and an accessible flush-toilet restroom.

• A public boat ramp with a fixed dock
• Restrooms, listed by the FWC as accessible
• Picnic tables
• Unpaved parking, shared with boat trailers
• No bait shop at the ramp; bait and tackle are in Port St. Joe, a short drive away
• Bring water and shade for summer evenings

• Summer evenings get crowded under the bridge; arrive early to claim a spot on the sand bar
• Blue crabs come in heavy in late spring, and many people crab here; check FWC crab rules
• A cast net full of small pinfish makes the best live bait
• Keep a close eye on children near the current and the ramp
• Highland View keeps Eastern Time, an hour ahead of Mexico Beach

Gulf County manages Highland View Park and its boat ramp; follow posted rules.

• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Tarpon have special FWC release rules; check them before you target one
• Keep the ramp and dock clear for launching boats
• Recreational blue crab traps and harvest have FWC rules; check them first
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything