Major Bays of Florida

Florida's 1,350+ mile coastline includes 19 major bays:

1. Pensacola Bay (NW, natural harbor)
2. Choctawhatchee Bay (NW, emerald waters)
3. St. Andrew Bay (Panhandle, marine life)
4. Apalachee Bay (Cape San Blas to Keaton Beach)
5. Tampa Bay (largest, major metro: Tampa, St. Pete)
6. Sarasota Bay (Gulf Coast, beaches, marine life)
7. Charlotte Harbor (SW, pristine, fishing)
8. Estero Bay (Gulf, boating, fishing, swimming)
9. San Carlos Bay (near Fort Myers, boating/fishing)
10. Lemon Bay (West coast, calm, water sports)
11. Alligator Bay (Panhandle, biodiversity)
12. Indian River Lagoon (Volusia–Palm Beach, most biodiverse estuary in N. America)
13. Mosquito Lagoon (near Daytona, kayaking, birding)
14. Banana River Lagoon (Space Coast, manatees, dolphins)
15. Biscayne Bay (Miami/Miami Beach, marine life, recreation)
16. Florida Bay (Keys, shallow, ecosystems)
17. Gulf of Mexico (not a bay, but borders west/south coasts)
18. Apalachicola Bay (Panhandle, oysters, marine life)
19. St. Joseph Bay (NW, beaches, fishing, boating)

These bays support rich ecosystems, fisheries, tourism, and recreation.