2019 Map of Mesquite Bay

About this map

Mesquite Bay and San Antonio Bay dominate this coastal landscape where the barrier islands of the Texas Gulf Coast intersect. The boundary between Aransas and Calhoun counties runs through these waters, bisecting the Second Chain of Islands and cutting across the Intracoastal Waterway. This survey details a complex maritime environment of oyster reefs and shallow passages, including Ayres Reef and Rattlesnake Reef, which have long influenced navigation in the region. To the east, the extensive marshlands of Matagorda Island stretch toward the Gulf of Mexico, while the western edge is defined by the Black Jack Peninsula. Numerous small landforms like Ayres Island, Roddy Island, and Bludworth Island dot the bays, alongside engineered channels such as Belden Dugout and Ayres Dugout, which reflect the area's history of waterborne commerce and transit.