Habitat and Wildlife
Costa Grande Ranch lies within the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes Ecoregion and is part of the Ingleside barrier-strand plain geologic system, a unique Pleistocene coastal system limited to a narrow band stretching from Calhoun County to Kleberg County, much of which has been impacted with development. Many say the habitats at Costa Grande are very similar to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. This system is characterized by a diverse complex of soils, and habitat associations, including live oak mottes, coastal prairie, sand barrens, freshwater marshes, and freshwater pothole pond along Live Oak Bayou. Tidal bayous, brackish emergent marshes, saltwater lakes, and channels further enhance the ranches biological diversity. This broad soil diversity supports a unique assemblage of native grasses, forbs, brush, and trees.
The wildlife resources on Costa Grande are “refuge quality” not only in game but also in non-game species. Hunting, birding, photography, and just enjoying the array of wildlife is easy to do within this diverse assemblage of habitats. Fresh and Coastal waters are home to a wide array of wintering waterfowl, shorebirds, and waterbirds such as ducks, geese, cranes, stilts, plovers, egrets, bitterns, and herons. Sandy soils, prairies and oak mott woodlands provide world class bobwhite quail, native whitetail deer, and turkey hunting.
The large motts and woodlands of Live Oak trees provide exceptional fall-out habitat for neotropical songbirds during spring and fall migration. At times the diversity of warblers, oriels, vireos, tanagers, and hummingbirds foraging and resting in the trees are unbelievable.
Fishing on the ranch and in adjacent waters is world class, and on Costa Grande Ranch is located literally at your doorstep. Redfish, trout, flounder, and drum are all part of the fishery that makes Port O’Connor a fishing destination. With the jettied pass out into the Gulf, offshore fishing for billfish, snapper, ling, and tuna are all possible. The Poco Bueno tournament in Port O’Connor is known across the country as one of the best for its bay and offshore divisions.