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Little Bay is a body of water located in Rockport Texas. It’s known for its great fishing, beautiful views, wildlife habitats, and boating opportunities.


Little Bay Rockport Texas
Little Bay Rockport Texas


Location of Little Bay


The small bay is surrounded by Rockport Beach Park to the south, Key Allegro Island to the east, and the Rockport Texas waterfront to the North.


Map of Little Bay and its features
Map of Little Bay and its features

Little Bay is one of Rockport’s most noted and beautiful features. People love to visit this place to take in its scenery and relax by its shorelines.


known for its calm waters and beautiful surroundings, making it a popular spot for both locals and tourists.







Situated in Aransas County Texas, Rockport itself is renowned for its rich wildlife, thriving art community, and coastal recreational activities, with Little Bay being a central feature for many of these attractions.


Here’s a breakdown of what makes Little Bay special:



Arial Photograph of Little Bay
Arial Photograph of Little Bay


Recreational Activities in Little Bay

 

Fishing:

Little Bay is a favorite spot for fishing enthusiasts, offering a variety of species including redfish, trout, flounder, and black drum. On the Rockport side, there is a line of oyster reefs that make a great spot to find fish.


If you cruise over to Rockport Beachside you will find sandy beds and seagrass along the rest of its shores, which are great for redfish and floundering. At the very end of the beach is the Leggett Channel. There you can catch all kinds of different species coming in and out of Little Bay.


Check out our pages for Fishing


Female Fisherman with Redfish in Aransas County
Fishing Bounty

 

Bird Watching:

The area around Little Bay is a haven for bird watchers, with three protected bird nesting areas as well as being part of the Great North American flyway path for migratory birds. Birds line the Great Blue Herron, Great Egrets, skimmers, rosetta spoons bills pelicans, and more love to stop by here for its great hunting and areas to nest their young.


Of course, the nearby Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is home to the famous whooping cranes among with around 400 other bird species.



Young Blue Heron on the shores of Little Bay
Young Blue Heron on the shores of Little Bay


Boating and Kayaking:

The calm waters of Little Bay make it ideal for boating and kayaking. With several access points around the bay to launch your small vessels. There is a boat launch at Rockport Beach for bigger boats and a channel cut into that circles the bay known by locals and lovers of Rockport as "The Ski Basin".









If you didn't bring a boat don't worry about it. Little Bay Marine is open for business and has a boat you can rent.



Here is a link to their website: Little Bay Marine, LLC (lbmrentals.com)







Sun Fish sail boats launching on the shores of Little bay
Sun Fish sail boats launching on the shores of Little bay

 


Natural Beauty and Wildlife

The bay's serene waters and the surrounding landscape provide a picturesque setting. It's part of the larger ecosystem around the Gulf of Mexico, contributing to the area's biodiversity.

The bay supports a rich marine ecosystem, including seagrass beds that are vital for marine life.



Cranes headed to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
Cranes headed to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge


 

Community and Culture

 

Rockport Beach

A vital part of Little Bay, Rockport Beach Park is Texas’ first Blue Wave Beach, known for its clean, safe shores and family-friendly environment.





Art Scene:

Rockport is known for its vibrant art scene, with numerous galleries and festivals. The Rockport Center for the Arts, though not directly on Little Bay, contributes to the cultural richness felt throughout the area.



Rockport Center for the Arts Complex
Rockport Center for the Arts Complex

Several famous art pieces are adorned along its western shoreline:


Art pieces displayed along The Little Bay shoreline.
Art pieces displayed along The Little Bay shoreline.


Events at Little Bay


The Rockport Festival Grounds run alongside the western side of Little Bay and Rockport and Little Bay host several events throughout the year, including fishing tournaments, monthly festivals, and cultural celebrations that attract visitors from all over. Visit the Rockport Visitors Center for more information on things happening all year long.


Join our emailing list and Check out our Events Calendar




Rockport Fulton Seafair
Rockport Fulton Seafair


Environmental Efforts

The area around Little Bay has been the focus of several environmental and conservation efforts to protect its natural beauty and wildlife. This includes habitat restoration projects and initiatives to maintain water quality.


Save Little Bay Flyer
Save Little Bay

Here are some links to organizations helping to protect and maintain this beautiful treasure.



Tourism and Economy

Tourism plays a significant role in the local economy, with Little Bay being a key attraction. The bay's appeal helps support various businesses in the area, from charter fishing and kayak rentals to restaurants, bars, and lodging.


Here is some links if you need those things:




Patriotic Boat Parade in Little Bay
Patriotic Boat Parade in Little Bay


Little Bay is more than just a body of water; it’s a community hub that offers a blend of recreational activities, natural beauty, and cultural richness. It embodies the spirit of Rockport, Texas, making it a cherished destination for both residents and visitors alike.

 



Little Bay, Key Allegro Island, and Rockport Beach Park
Little Bay, Key Allegro Island, and Rockport Beach Park

Thank you for taking the time to explore the insights and stories we’ve shared. We hope you’ve found a spark of inspiration and a wealth of helpful information that resonates with your journey.


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Who we are

The RockportFulton.com website is a comprehensive guide to the towns of Rockport and Fulton, Texas. The website provides a wealth of information about the local area, including events, activities, and attractions.



Arial View of the Rockport Texas Waterfront
Rockport Texas USA


Visitors to the website can find information about local festivals, markets, and events, as well as details about local businesses, restaurants, and accommodations. The website also features a calendar of events, so visitors can easily plan their trip and make the most of their time in Rockport and Fulton.


In addition to providing information about the local area.


RockportFulton.com is also a great resource for those who are interested in the history and culture of Rockport and Fulton. The website includes articles and photos that highlight the rich history of the towns and their unique character.


Overall, the RockportFulton.com website is an excellent resource for anyone planning a trip to Rockport and Fulton, or for those who simply want to learn more about these charming coastal towns.



The Town of Fulton Texas at sunset
The Town of Fulton Texas

Here are some additional links to help you explore the area




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Updated: Jan 4, 2023

Fulton Harbor Marina

Rockport Harbor Marina

The Rockport Harbor Marina is located at 911 Navigation Circle in Rockport. It is considered an iconic local landmark in the Rockport, Texas area. When you travel to the Rockport, Texas waterfront, it can be seen filled with different kinds of boats and bait shops. It is located across from the Texas Maritime Museum and is within walking distance of historical downtown Rockport and Rockport Beach Park. Both live aboard boats, as well as storage docks can be found at The Rockport Harbor Marina.


Rockport Texas Harbor in 1958
Rockport Harbor in 1958


The Rockport Harbor is owned and managed by the Aransas County Navigation District. Here is the link if you would like information about housing a boat, or to inquire about a liveaboard docking facility. Their contact number and website are shown below.

1-361-729-6661

Aransas County Navigation District logo
Aransas County Navigation District


Check out the Virtual Tour of the Rockport Harbor


In addition, If you would like to find out more about the Rockport Harbor below we will share some history about it.



Rockport Texas Harbor
Rockport Texas Harbor



History of the Rockport Harbor


In 1866, James Doughty and Richard H. Wood searched for a safe location to ship cattle. They built pens and a livestock-shipping wharf on a place known in those days as “Rocky Point”. Rocky Point was a prominent lime-stone protrusion that extended into Aransas Bay and was located near present-day Wharf Street.

Rockport Fulton Early Shipping

Rockport Fulton Early Shipping

The Steam Ships arrived in Rockport

Other Wharves and pens soon followed. With so many cattle now available, regularly scheduled Morgan Line shallow draft steamboats arrived with merchandise for distribution inland. They would come and soon after departing with cattle and Packery products.



The Aransas Railroad Company

The Aransas Railroad Company

The Aransas Railroad Company

The arrival of the railroad in 1888 ignited a boom in Rockport. The event inspired local businessmen to begin promoting and advertising a strategic harbor near the Gulf. They also pushed to deepen the harbor, as well as to create a deep water port. Even though they tried, their efforts ended when Corpus Christi opened its port in 1926.



The Shrimping Boom at the Rockport Harbor

Rockport Shrimping Boom

Rockport Shrimping Boom

In the early 1900s, abundant harvests of fish, oysters, and shrimp fueled a thriving seafood industry. By 1910 fish houses anchored the southwest side of Rockport harbor. Numerous fishing boats moored along the harbor wharves.


Rockport Marine Biology Laboratory

The Rockport Marine Laboratory begin in 1935 aboard the houseboat Vivian. In 1947, a prominent building was constructed on the southeast side of the harbor to house the Marine Lab and an aquarium.

Rockport Marine Laboratory

Aransas County Navigation District

Established in 1925, The Aransas County Navigation District begin a program to improve the harbor. By 1940, a new breakwater and a concrete piling and steel seawall created a small-craft safety basin which became Rockport’s famous “Fish Bowl” harbor.

Rockport Harbor Early Photo

Rockport Marina Early Photo

Rockport Harbor Early Photo

Harbor Early Photo

Rockport Harbor Historical Photo

Rockport Harbor Historical Photo

The Rockport Marina Today

Today Rockport Harbor is home to many shrimping boats, sailing boats, and cruising yachts. In addition, the harbor is home to a few local bait shops and a guided birdwatching tour operation. It’s within walking distance of downtown shopping, the Texas Maritime Museum, Aransas Bay education center, and Rockport Beach Park.

Rockport Harbor

Rockport Harbor Today

We hope you found this information interesting. If you would like to learn more about other great things to see and do in the Rockport Fulton area. We would encourage you to explore the many pages we have at RockportFulton.com. We would also encourage you to like and follow our facebook.com/RockportFulton to stay up with the latest happenings and news.


Here are some helpful links for things around the area


Rockport Beach

Check out the Rockport Beach Live feed page to see what's going on down there.


Who we are

The RockportFulton.com website is a comprehensive guide to the towns of Rockport and Fulton, Texas. The website provides a wealth of information about the local area, including events, activities, and attractions.



Arial View of the Rockport Texas Waterfront
Rockport Texas USA


Visitors to the website can find information about local festivals, markets, and events, as well as details about local businesses, restaurants, and accommodations. The website also features a calendar of events, so visitors can easily plan their trip and make the most of their time in Rockport and Fulton.


In addition to providing information about the local area.


RockportFulton.com is also a great resource for those who are interested in the history and culture of Rockport and Fulton. The website includes articles and photos that highlight the rich history of the towns and their unique character.


Overall, the RockportFulton.com website is an excellent resource for anyone planning a trip to Rockport and Fulton, or for those who simply want to learn more about these charming coastal towns.



The Town of Fulton Texas at sunset
The Town of Fulton Texas

Here are some additional links to help you explore the area

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