Re: Dade County Ramps. this email:

I live in south Dade County (Now called Miami-Dade County) and I thought I would update you on some of the ramp info.

All the Miami-Dade County Parks Ramps now charge $10.00 per day for boat & vehicle.   An annual, unlimited use pass can be purchased  (for one vehicle-non transferable) for $120.00.   This is the biggest bargain on the market for the serious boater as it is good and any of the County Parks Boat Ramps.

Mathason Hammock ramp has 9 good ramps.   Very crowded on weekends & parking becomes almost impossible to find then.


Black Point is maintained best of all, The park manager pressure washes the ramp at low tide clearing it of slime & algae. The biggest drawback is the long channel which is a Manatee Zone Idle speed and it takes you 20-30 minutes to make it to the open water to power up.

Avoid it on weekends between 1-5pm as it is a mayhem as boaters return to get their trailers, try to dock, or hold position in the narrow basin while waiting for a dock and the ability to get the car and trailer.  Once on the dock the line of cars & trailers waiting to get back to recover the boat is easily 20-30 minutes. 

It is such an event that the local citizens come there and sit on the small hill overlooking the ramp by the hundreds on the weekend afternoons to watch the show & fights the boaters provide.  In fact they start cheering JERRY-JERRY-JERRY-JERRY-JERRY-JERRY (as they do on the Jerry Springer Show) when a boater really fouls up!   Interesting!

If one waits until about sundown the crowd thins out, on the hill and at the ramps.

Mal McAleenan