2022 Map of Mesquite Bay

About this map

The Intracoastal Waterway cuts a straight course through the complex coastal geography of the Aransas and Calhoun county border, serving as the primary navigation artery for this maritime landscape. This coastal region is dominated by expansive saltwater bodies and tidal marshes, including Mesquite Bay, San Antonio Bay, and Ayres Bay. The geography is defined by narrow barrier features and peninsulas, most notably the southern reach of the Black Jack Peninsula and the western edge of Matagorda Island. Named features like Ayres Reef and Rattlesnake Reef indicate the shallow, obstacle-strewn nature of these waters, while man-made improvements such as the Belden Dugout and Ayres Dugout show the historical efforts to manage water flow and navigation through the marshes. This map documents a fragile coastal ecosystem where small landforms like the Second Chain of Islands and False Live Oak Point provide critical landmarks for local navigation.