Redfish Bay

Redfish Bay is a southwestern extension of Aransas Bay in Texas, north of Corpus Christi Bay. It separates the cities of Aransas Pass and Ingleside from Port Aransas on Mustang Island.

View of Aransas Pass and Ingleside from the bridge across Redfish Bay

Features
Benthic Map of Redfish Bay shows seagrass (green), oyster reefs (pink), sand bottom (yellow), mangroves (magenta), and salt marsh (light blue).

Redfish Bay is found at N 27.9078 and W -97.11277.[1] Overall, it is extremely shallow and contains several small islands, salt marshes, channels and shallow mudflats. The bridge from Aransas Pass to Port Aransas splits the bay into two sections.[2]

Ecosystem

The northernmost extensive beds of seagrass in Texas, including Turtle Grass (Thalassia testudinum) and Shoal Grass (Halodule beaudettei), are found in the bay. In June 2000, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department designated the bay as a scientific area to study the seagrass, as a result, the Redfish Bay State Scientific Area was established. By May 2006, new boating regulations were put in place to prevent damage to the grass.[3] Every February since 2007, the city of Aransas Pass holds the Redfish Bay Trash Parade and Coastal Cleanup, an event that encourages the removal of trash and waste from the bay, due to pollution.[4] In 2009, 90 volunteers cleared three pickup loads of trash that included syringes, construction hard hats, ribbons and busted balloons.[5]

The bay contains 32,000 acres (130 km2; 50 sq mi) of fish habitat,[3] and is a popular fishing destination along the Texas coast.[2] Between 1975 and 1987, millions of Red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), were stocked in the bay.[6] Along with the drum, flounder can be found, as well as seatrout (Cynoscion spp.), which dwell in the seagrass and muddy bottoms.[7] Red tides have been known to affect the bay including a 1986 tide that resulted in a major fish kill. Months later, another tide swept the bay and Corpus Christi Bay to the south. A fish-killing microorganism was found in Corpus Christi Bay that was believed to be responsible.[8]

Industry

Petroleum has been found at the bottom of the bay. In December 1983, three people were injured and between $2 and $3 million of damage was done to the Corpus Christi Oil Refining Corporation's Redfish Bay Terminal near the bay in Aransas Pass, following an explosion of five oil tanks.[9]

References
  1. "Redfish Bay USGS Estes Quad, Texas, Topographic Map". Topozone.com. Demand Media, Inc. 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  2. "Fishing Redfish Bay & Port Aransas". Texmaps and Carson Map Company. 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  3. "Redfish Bay State Scientific Area". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. February 9, 2007. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  4. "Ingleside Index reviews 2009". Ingleside Index. December 30, 2009. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  5. Baird, Mike (February 22, 2009). "Volunteers wave goodbye to stash of trash". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  6. "Stocking History for Redfish Bay (Aransas Bay)". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. February 22, 2007. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  7. Sikes, David (December 18, 2009). "Coastal Bend Fishing Report: 12.18.09". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  8. "Texas hit by red tide again". Lundington Daily News. Associated Press. January 9, 1987. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  9. "Oil Tanks Explode, Injuring 3". New York Times. Associated Press. December 17, 1983. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
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