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Gulf Coast Region
Goose Island State Park
Goose Island State Park White Pelicans © Dennis Eccleston
White and Brown Pelicans can been seen near the boat launch and fish cleaning area of the park looking for scraps.
Goose Island State Park Great Blue Heron © Dennis Eccleston
The great blue heron is a common sight on the shoreline.
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GOOSE ISLAND STATE PARK
GOOSE ISLAND STATE PARK
202 South Palmetto Street
Rockport, Texas   78382
(lat:28.138 lon:-96.9855) map location

Phone: 361-729-2858
Reservations: 512-389-8900
Goose Island State Park, 321.4 acres, surrounded by the St. Charles and Aransas Bays, is located north of Rockport in Aransas County. The park was acquired in 1931-1935 by deeds from private owners and Legislative Act setting aside the state-owned Goose Island as a state park. The earliest park facilities were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the early 1930s.

The "Big Tree," named State Champion Coastal Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) in 1969, is thought to be one of the largest in the nation. Estimated to be over 1000 years old, the "Big Tree" has a circumference of 35 feet, is 44 feet in height and has a crown spread of 90 feet.
Fishing
Enjoy fishing from the 1,620-foot pier or shoreline. Catch redfish, speckled trout and black drum among other species. You can also fish in St Charles Bay for flounder and sheepshead. Nighttime offers opportunities to catch spotted seatrout under park lights.

Location
Goose Island State Park is located near Aransas Pass, Portland and Rockport
Picnicking
Goose Island State Park offers numerous picnic sites with tables and grills. Some are shaded, others offer stunning bay views.
Birding
Birdwatching enthusiasts can spot over 300 species including the endangered Whooping Crane. Other birds include Reddish Egrets, Roseate Spoonbills and Black Skimmers. The park is also home to a variety of warblers during migration season.

The birding trail offers excellent viewing opportunities with its observation deck and blinds. Guided tours are available for those interested in learning more about local avian life.

Winter months offer sightings of waterfowl like Buffleheads, Northern Pintails, Gadwalls while summer brings nesting Least Terns and Wilson's Plovers.
Area Attractions
Located directly across St. Charles Bay from the park are the wintering grounds for rare and endangered whooping cranes in the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Also nearby are the Copano Bay State Fishing Pier, Mustang Island State Park, Fulton Mansion State Historic Site, Texas Maritime Museum, and the Texas State Aquarium in the City of Corpus Christi. For more information on the Rockport-Fulton area, call the Rockport-Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-242-0071 or visit their web site at www.rockport-fulton.org
Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
April 28 be careful of hairy caterpillars
park review stars; one to five White-marked tussock moth caterpillars were abundant during our April 2014 visit. Touch or any exposure to the little hair spines caused severe allergic reactions in several group members. Rashes appeared on back, stomach, arms, and neck. Treatment with antihistamine creams provided limited relief. Rashes lasted several days. Washing with soap and water did not help and may have spread the exposure. The hairy spines can become airborn. Also squashing bug may result in hairy spines becoming embedded in wood of picnic tables. Caterpillars drop from trees, so they are difficult to avoid. People who have asthma should be especially cautious.
February 21 A Very Beautiful State Park by Bette & Rex Wagoner
park review stars; one to five My wife and I visited Goose Island State Park this past Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, and we loved it. It is one of the better parks which we have visited.
October 29 Wildlife everywhere by Nate
park review stars; one to five I grew up in Aransas Pass and Rockport,TX. Goose Island is THE place to fish and crab and oyster when it is permitted. The area should be protected for its ecologic environment suitable for our wild life to generate and grow.
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Area Campgrounds
Ancient Oaks RV Park
1222 Business Highway 35 South
Rockport, TX
Raintree RV Park
1924 West Terrace Boulevard
Rockport, TX
361-729-7005
Nearby Hotels
Booking.com

Directions
The park is located 10 miles northeast of Rockport on State Highway 35 to Park Road 13, then 2 miles east to park entrance.

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Texas
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Texas State Parks

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