A 365-acre preserve at the mouth of the Manatee River, where the river opens out into Tampa Bay with the Sunshine Skyway visible to the north. The point itself holds another Tocobaga mound. The Portavant Temple Mound is a 22-foot earthwork from around 900-1100 AD, one of the largest surviving in Florida. There's an observation tower and an interpretive trail before you launch; it's worth fifteen minutes. The paddling is wide open with long views, which makes it feel bigger than the small preserve might suggest. Dolphins work the river mouth where freshwater meets salt, manatees push into the warm river pockets in winter, and on a clear evening the sun sets directly behind the Skyway like a postcard.
Where do I park, and is it free?
- Cost
- Current fee unknown
- Parking
- Unknown
- Restrooms
- Listed in the checked source (checked 2026-08-20)
- Dogs
- Leashed dogs welcome
The county lists two canoe and kayak launches, parking, restrooms, and sunrise to sunset hours. A hurricane-damaged dock remains closed until further notice, and the page does not identify which dock that notice covers.
Access sources: mymanatee.org (checked August 20, 2026).
How clear is the water?
Cleaner on incoming tide; the Manatee River dumps tannic (tea-brown) water on a strong outgoing
What will I see?
- Dolphins where river meets bay
- Manatees in the warm river pockets
What's the fishing like?
Snook, redfish, and trout around the point and flats; mangrove snapper on structure near the river mouth.
How do I share the water here?
The shallows where the Manatee River meets Tampa Bay are seagrass meadows, the same grass the manatees come into the warm river pockets to feed on. Walk your board out past the grass before you climb on rather than dragging a fin through it, and if you share water with a manatee keep it to passive observation only, since chasing or touching one is a federal offense.
See how it scores before you drive out.
Check Emerson Point (Palmetto) on the live map