Thanks to the addition of two leased river access sites through the River Access and Conservation Area( RACA ) program, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department( TPWD ) is expanding public fishing and paddling opportunities in the state. The government now has more options and freedom to get these amazing lakes thanks to the new sites’ locations on the Brazos and San Marcos streams.
The new Brazos River location is in Milam County, close to Calvert, and has two entry points upstream of FM 979. The Scull Road Bridge, close to Martindale, is where the fresh RACA site on the San Marcos River is located.
According to John Botros, TPWD river entry planner,” Both rivers are just a short drive away from big metropolitan areas like Houston, San Antonio, and Austin.” Entertainment on rivers has previously been constrained in Texas by a lack of open access points. These new locations are a significant step in enhancing the government’s options for access to rivers that are safe, legal, and of the highest caliber for paddling and fishing.
Brazos River site: Milam County’s TPWD River Access site, Area 1,( 10794 FM 979 ), provides free parking for those who have leased access. Visitors can swim and tuna in the Brazos River through this entry stage. For paddling and / or fishing, Area 2 ( 5988 County Road 259 ) offers a parking area and access to the Brazos. To get from the parking lot to the access point, a landowner-provided flight is necessary.
For swim fishing and the launch of non-motorized boats, canoes, or kayaks to sail or angle on the river, access to these web-site areas is available from 30 minutes before sunrise to 20 minutes after sunset. Before arriving, guests are asked to call 979-219-408 to obtain the required wall codes and verify site conditions. With the owner, flight services may be prearranged.
Largemouth, spotted, and white bass can all be caught in abundance along this section of the river, along with channel catfish, water disc, sunfish. Paddling and fishermen should be aware that the water levels in these areas are currently very small, and the river conditions present further difficulties.
San Marcos River site: For leased access people, TPWD has set up a new park area 0.16 miles south of the Scull Road Bridge. For launching non-motorized boats, canoes, or kayaks to paddle and / or fish, entry is open every day from 30 minutes before dawn to 20 minutes after sundown. On this section of the San Marcos River, there are many options for route carp, largemouth bass, and Guadalupe bass fishing.
To obtain the right gate code and make sure parking is available, visitors are instructed to text 512-787-5574 before arriving. Just loading and unloading is permitted in the immediate vicinity of the bridge. Park and bank fishing are not permitted at the access point.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, the Sport Fish Restoration Program of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program all contributed to the current funding of river access and restoration locations, which also includes profits of Texas Rivers Conservation License Plate.
See Accessing Our Rivers: The RACA Team to find out more and get to know the team’s people.
