In this section: Fishing | Recreation | Vacationing| Birding

FISHING

With the largest and deepest bay system on the Texas Gulf Coast, Calhoun County has much to offer the avid sports fisherman. Matagorda Bay, Espiritu Santo Bay, San Antonio Bay, Lavaca Bay and Caranchua Bay are full of redfish, shark, trout, flounder, pompano, gafftops, whiting, croakers, sheepheads, drum, jack crevalle, Spanish mackerel and the "silver king" of game fish, tarpon. Calhoun County also offers the best natural passes or entries to the Gulf on the Texas Gulf Coast. These include famoun Pass Cavallo, Cedar Bayou and Matagorda Ship Channel Jetties (Big Jetties).

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RECREATION

Calhoun County offers visitors a wide variety of public park facilities, many of which have RV accommodations. The county also hosts numerous, easily accessible public boat ramps.

Imagine yourself with the opportunity for excellent sailing, fishing, and shelling on the countless beaches, and birding in the wetlands. The most popular area attractions continue to be Lighthouse Beach in Port Lavaca, the Formosa Wetlands Walkway and Alcoa Bird Tower, Matagorda Island State Park, Port O'Connor King Fisher Beach and Park, Seadrift Bayfront Park, Magnolia Beach and Indianola.

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VACATIONING

The tropical, seaside environment and community charm add to an attractive, family-oriented vacation. The cost of vacationing in Calhoun County is among the most affordable in the nation. Accommodations range from full-service hotels to quaint bed and breakfasts. It is also an area rich in history, with such colorful sites as Ranger Cemetery, the historic Half-Moon Reef Lighthouse, the LaSalle Monument, the old Indianola Townsite, the historic Olivia Cemetery, the Matagorda Island Lighthouse, Calhous County Museum, numerous other cemeteries and a total of 32 historic markers.

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BIRDING

Birding is growing in popularity as a recreational activity along the Texas Gulf Coast, with Calhoun County being one of the best birding hotspots in the state.

For the past few years Calhoun County has held the record for the most bird species spotted, in not only the state, but the nation!

The 3,420-acre Myrtle Foester-Whitmire Division of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge attracts reddish egrets, roseate spoonbills and osprey. Birders were also able to see nine species of herons, egrets, sandhill cranes, curlews and a variety of shorebirds, gulls, terns, reails and gallinules. This area is also a place where endangered pereghrine falcons, wood storks and bown pelicans have been known to frequent.

Birders will love coming to Calhoun County because it is also included on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail. Launched in October 1994 the $1.5 million birding trail encompasses 95 sites throughout communities on ther Central Texas Gulf Coast.

The Formosa Wetlands Walkway, an elevated walk of recycled plastic stretching over coastal wetlands and tidal exchange basin for some 3,202 feet into Lavaca Bay is a prime area for spotting indigenous Coastal wildlife. The Alcoa Bird Tower and elevated gazebo on the Walkway provide a quiet and beautiful place to view the many birds that populate the area.

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