Palacios Seawall
Palacios' seawall stretches across 3 miles and is a favorite spot for many walkers. There are also three public boat ramps and numerous lighted jetties and piers for fishing and 2 miles of lighted sidewalk. The historic Luther Hotel is along the seafront.

Palacios Sand Beach
Along the west end of the south bay seawall at Railroad Park is a man-made sand beach, perfect for launching small sailboats, building sand castles, sunbathing, and beach picnicking.

Sargent Beach
Only 90 miles from Houston...Get away from the big city life! Great fishing, beach combing, shelling and bird watching. Actually an island bordered to the north by the Intracoastal Canal, to the East by the San Bernard and to the West by Mitchell's Cut. Sargent Beach is protected by an 8 mile Granite Revetment Wall which protects the Gulf side of the island and offers a road east and west, behind the wall, for a combined distance of 8 miles down the beach.

Harbors, Intracoastal Waterway, Locks and Swing Bridges
Port of Bay City
www.portofbaycity.com
979-245-5831

Matagorda Harbor and Swing Bridge
Craig Hlavinka, Harbormaster
979-863-2103

Port of Palacios
Three large commercial turning basins two recreational marinas, and three boat/ship repair facilities. Home port to the largest shrimping fleet on the Texas Gulf Coast.
Tony Rigdon – Port Director
361-972-5556
www.portofpalacios.com
info@portofpalacios.com

La Salle Odyssey
A series of exhibits in seven museums tells the story of La Salle’s ill-fated expedition and the remarkable discovery and excavation of La Belle and Fort St. Louis 300 years later. Two Odyssey museums and La Petite Belle, the half-scale replica of the ship, are located in Matagorda County.

Matagorda County Museum
Tells the story of the incredible excavation of La Belle; exhibits many artifacts from the excavation including one of the three bronze cannon recovered.
2100 Avenue F, Bay City
979-245-7502
www.matagordacountymuseum.org

Palacios Area Museum
Tells the roll that the town of Palacios and its residents played in the search for La Belle and the succeeding recovery. Many artifacts from the excavation are exhibited.
416 Commerce Street, Palacios (temporary location)
401 Commerce Street, Palacios (permanent location)
361-972-1148
For additional info call 361-972-3960, -2270, or -0495
www.palaciosmuseum.org

La Petite Belle
Half-scale replica ship of La Salle’s La Belle berthed at the South Bay Marina in Palacios. For additional information call 361-972-3960.

Other Attractions
Birding Nature Center
The Matagorda County Birding Nature Center spans 34 acres on the Colorado River and offers nature trails, gardens, boardwalks, bridges, and an outdoor education center. Call for guided tours. Pavilion rentals available for special events. Open 7 days a week (daylight hours) $3.00/person; $5.00/car; members free
1025 State Hwy 35 South
Bay City, TX 77414
979-245-3336
www.mcbnc.org

Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail
Fourteen state-recognized sites are located in Matagorda County, nine of which are in and around the immediate Palacios area. Birding maps are available at local chambers and at the Birding and Nature Center.
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/birdingtrails/coastal_trail
www.mcbnc.org
NatureTourism@tpwd.state.tx.us

Historical Markers
Matagorda County is host to over 85 Texas State Historical markers. Maps are available at Bay City Tribune, local chambers, and area museums.
www.matagordatourism.com

Bay City
Day on the Bay Services
Captain James Arnold
2553 CR 166
Bay City, TX 77414
979-244-6787
jp@dayonthebayservices.com
www.dayonthebayservices.com

God’s Promise Fishing Guide Service
Captain Randy Macik
891 CR 239
Bay City, TX 77414
281-620-4598
rfmacik@pdq.net
www.godspromisefishing.com

Hondo’s Guide Service
Captain Johnnie Hahn
1909 Letulle
Bay City, TX 77414
979-245-7865
johnnie@hondosguideservice.com
www.Matagordatexas.com

Captain Jay Huitt’s Saltwater Fishing Guide Service
3120A Ave. F
Bay City, TX 77414
979-240-3597
thecaptjay@yahoo.com
www.matagordabayfishing.com

Captain TJ Guide Service
Travis Jaroszewski
1847 Hall Rd.
Bay City, TX 77414
979-244-0659 or 713-253-5488
capttravis@ev1.net

Matagorda Bay Fishing & Hunting
Captain J. C. Smith
# 8 Bobwhite Ln.
Bay City, TX 77414
matagordafishing@nol.com
matagordabayfishing-huntingguide.com

Reel Life Adventures
Captain Jesse Arsola
Bay City, TX 77414
979-245-9914
reel-life-adventures@orbitworld.net
www.matagordabay.com/reel-life-adventures

Saltgrass Charters
Captain Kenneth Hauff, Jr.
2828 Del Monte Ave.
Bay City, TX 77414
979-244-9117
979-240-3614
Specks and Spots Guide Services
Captain Mike Allison
3909 Heatherglen
Bay City, TX 77414
979-245-0570
www.matagordafishing.cc

Specks and Spots Guide Services
Captain Mike Allison
3909 Heatherglen
Bay City, TX 77414
979-245-0570
www.matagordafishing.cc

Third Coast Outfitters of Texas
Captain Randy Triplett
P.O. Box 1672
Bay City, TX 77414
1-888-894-3373
judy@thirdcoastoutfitters.com

Blessing
Sexton’s Guide Service
Capt. Ray Sexton, Jr.
P.O. Box 479
Blessing, TX 77419
361-588-7408
www.sextonsguideservice.com

Matagorda
“Redfish” Raymond
Captain “Redfish” Raymond Cox
P.O. Box 714
Matagorda, Texas 77457
979-863-7434; 979-240-8285
redfishraymond@msn.com
www.redfishraymond.com

Gardner’s Guide Service
Captain Bob Gardner
1415 Lewis Street
Matagorda, TX 77457
979-863-2149
ratler94@aol.com
www.gardnersguideservice.com

Gold Tip Guide Service
Capt. Bill Pustejovsky
979-863-7353
captbill@goldtipguideservice.com
www.goldtipguideservice.com

Kingfisher Guide Service
Captain Walt Schelle
1101 Lewis
Matagorda, TX 77457
979-863-7666 or 979-240-5187
walt@matagorda-bay.com
http://www.matagorda-bay.com/kingfisher.htm

Krejci Guide Service
Captain Emil Krejci, Jr.
P.O. Box 703
Matagorda, TX 77457
979-863-2262 or 713-408-1047
captainemil@yahoo.com
www.matagorda-bay.com/fishing/guides/ek/

Prat Kat Charter Service
Captain Tom Klaiber
1005 Wightman
Matagorda, TX 77457
979-543-9204; 979-863-7333

Saltwater Addiction
Captain Mike Mosley
P.O. Box 288
Matagorda, TX 77457
979-863-7447
www.saltwateraddiction.com

Skipper’s Guide Service
Captain Skipper Osborne
P.O. Box 583
Matagorda, TX 77457
979-863-6917; 979-863-2965; 979-863-7620
skipper@skippersguideservice.com
www.skippers-matagorda.com

Talasek’s Guide Service
Captain Mark Talasek
2701 LaMesa
Bay City, Texas
979-429-7032; 979-244-0044
marktalasek@sbcglobal.net

Third Coast Charters
Captain Bubba Simons
P.O. Box 579
Matagorda, TX 77457
979-429-6886 or 979-863-2985
bubba@thirdcoastcharters.com
www.thirdcoastcharters.com

Tommy’s Guide Service
Captain Tommy Countz
P.O. Box 637
Matagorda, TX 77457
979-863-7553; 281-450-4037
www.MatagordaFishing.com tcountz@wcnet.net

Don Wood’s Guide Service
Captain Don Wood
P.O. Box 585
Matagorda, TX 77457
979-863-7334; 281-342-6407
Wood6919@sbcglobal.net
www.matagordabay.com

Palacios
Big Papaws Bay Fishing
Captain Charlie Metcalf
112 Sanders St
Palacios, TX 77465
361-972-1664
captainc456@yahoo.com
www.bigpapaw.com

Captain Thiggy’s Guide Service
Captain David Thigpen
326 Trout Street
Palacios, TX 77465
361-972-6502
Thiggy@ykc.com
www.thiggy.com

Palacios Guide Service
Capt. Jim Havens
322 East Bayshore
Palacios, TX 77465
361-972-3987

Texas Saltwater Fishing
Captain Cody Adams
Palacios, TX 77465
361-872-2255
cody@texassaltwaterfishing.com
www.texassaltwaterfishing.com/codyadams

Sargent
Coastal Adventures Guide Service
Captain Larry Cabness
713-443-0428
lcabness@houston.rr.com
www.texasgulfcoastadventures.com

Wadsworth
Al’s Guide Service
Captain Al Garrison
14 Prairie Ln.
Wadsworth, TX 77483
979-245-9207; 979-240-3822

Captain Ken’s Guide Service
Captain Ken Marshall
P.O. Box 371
Wadsworth, TX 77483
713-560-6000
captken@fishmatagorda.com
www.fishmatagorda.com

Moonlight Mistress
Aquatic Adventures LLC
Capt. David Kneeland; Capt. Mark Talasek
P.O. Box 152
Wadsworth, TX 77483
979-479-1397; 281-468-7075
aquaticadventures@gmail.com
www.aquaticadventuresllc.com