Guadalupe Bay is a slender inlet ofSan Antonio Bay inCalhoun County, Texas,United States, near the settlements ofSeadrift andLong Mott. It is fed by theGuadalupe River, and is the site of the river's two mouths.[1]
The etymology of Guadalupe Bay derived from theGuadalupe River, which was named in honor ofOur Lady of Guadalupe byAlonso De León.[2]
The bay formed as the Guadalupe Riverdelta discharge extended intoSan Antonio Bay, forming the subdelta headland that can now be found between the Hynes and Guadalupe Bays. While the bay's formation as it is known today was not finalized until about 500 years ago (and is continuing to change), human settlement predates the current formation. TheKarankawa Indians resided on the Guadalupe Bay sporadically during the past 2,500 years. Archeological evidence suggests that during the active periods, the Karankawa migrated seasonally between the bays and the inland. During the winter months, groups of about 500 would arrive at the bay to fish, hunt and collect shellfish. The salinity of the bay decreased as theSan Antonio River joined with the Guadalupe River about 1,500 years ago, diminishing the shellfish population.[3]
By 1967, dredging was complete on the Victoria Barge Canal fromVictoria to theIntracoastal Waterway,[4] and ran along the shore of Guadalupe Bay. During the construction, ancient artifacts andmiddens were discovered. Shortly thereafter, the Guadalupe Bay Archeological Site was established.[5]
Finfish found in the bay includeBlack drum,redfish,sheepshead andspotted seatrout. In the upper reaches, the freshwater varieties ofchannel catfish,flathead catfish andgar have been caught.Oysters are native to the bay,[6] but cannot be harvested due to restrictions by theTexas Department of State Health Services.[7]Shrimping is likewise prohibited due to its classification as a nursery bay.[8]
28°26′25″N96°46′07″W / 28.440242°N 96.768608°W /28.440242; -96.768608