Texas Porch

Public lands / Fishing / Hunting

Matagorda Island WMA: Fishing, Hunting, and Camping by Boat Only

Matagorda Island Wildlife Management Area, accessible only by boat from Port O'Connor, offers 56,688 acres of barrier island for fishing, hunting, camping, and wildlife watching with no motorized vehicles allowed.

Calhoun County The Great Outdoors

Matagorda Island WMA lies across Espiritu Santo Bay from Port O'Connor. There is no State of Texas ferry — you need a private or charter boat to get there. The island is 38 miles long and managed by Texas Parks and Wildlife. No motorized personal vehicles are allowed once you arrive.

Day-use activities like fishing, hiking, and biking require no permit. If you want to camp or hunt waterfowl, you must carry a Limited Public Use Permit (LPU) or Annual Public Hunting Lands Permit (APH). Fishing the bay side docks and shallow flats, or surf-fishing the gulf side, targets redfish, sea trout, black drum, and flounder. White-tailed deer hunting follows the regular Calhoun County season.

The WMA has no electricity, drinking water, or concessions. Bring everything you need. Check the TPWD WMA page for current season dates, permit requirements, and any closures before you go — conditions and rules can change.

Source to confirm: TPWD — Matagorda Island WMA

More Calhoun County notes

Property tax

Homestead Exemption Cuts Your School Tax Bill

Texas law requires school districts to subtract $140,000 from the appraised value of your primary home before calculating school taxes — but you must apply at the Calhoun County Appraisal District to claim it.

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Property tax

Ag Valuation Taxes Land on Productivity, Not Market Price

Landowners who use property for farming, ranching, or qualifying wildlife management can apply for 1-d-1 open-space appraisal, which bases taxes on what the land can produce rather than its market value.

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Coastal windstorm / TWIA

Coastal Properties Need Separate Windstorm Coverage

Calhoun County is one of the 14 first-tier coastal counties where standard homeowners policies typically exclude wind and hail, so most property owners need a separate TWIA policy.

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Flood / Hurricane

Storm Surge Is the Biggest Hurricane Threat Here

Calhoun County's low coastal elevation makes it highly vulnerable to storm surge — rapidly rising ocean water that can travel miles inland during a hurricane — so knowing your flood zone and evacuation route matters before a storm forms.

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