Redfish Bay facts for kids
Redfish Bay is a shallow bay in Texas, located near the cities of Aransas Pass and Port Aransas. It is connected to Aransas Bay and is north of Corpus Christi Bay. The bay helps separate the mainland cities of Aransas Pass and Ingleside from Mustang Island.
About Redfish Bay
Redfish Bay is known for being very shallow. It has many small islands, salt marshes, and muddy areas called mudflats. A large bridge connects Aransas Pass to Port Aransas, and this bridge divides the bay into two main sections.
Plants and Animals
Redfish Bay is home to some of the most important seagrass beds in northern Texas. Two main types of seagrass found here are Turtle Grass (Thalassia testudinum) and Shoal Grass (Halodule wrightii). These seagrass beds are like underwater forests. They provide food and shelter for many different sea creatures.
Because these seagrass beds are so important, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department made Redfish Bay a special scientific area in 2000. This helps scientists study and protect the seagrass. To keep the grass safe, new rules for boats were put in place in 2006. These rules help prevent boats from damaging the delicate seagrass.
The bay is also a very popular place for fishing along the Texas Coastal Bend. It has about 32,000 acres (130 square kilometers) of good fish habitat. Many years ago, millions of Red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) were added to the bay to help their numbers grow. Besides red drum, you can also find flounder and seatrout (Cynoscion species) living in the seagrass and muddy parts of the bay.
Sometimes, tiny living things in the water can grow too much and cause something called a red tide. Red tides can make the water look discolored and can sometimes harm fish. For example, in 1986, a red tide caused many fish to die in Redfish Bay and nearby Corpus Christi Bay. Scientists later found a tiny organism that they believed caused this problem.
Protecting the Bay
People in the area work hard to keep Redfish Bay clean. Every February since 2007, the city of Aransas Pass holds an event called the Redfish Bay Trash Parade and Coastal Cleanup. During this event, volunteers come together to pick up trash and waste from the bay. This helps keep the water and the environment healthy for all the plants and animals that live there. In 2009, about 90 volunteers collected three truckloads of trash, showing how much effort goes into protecting this important natural area.
Industry in the Area
Oil, also known as Petroleum, has been found deep under Redfish Bay. This means there are facilities nearby that handle and store oil.
See also
In Spanish: Bahía Redfish (Texas) para niños
