b'N ATURAL BEAUTY AND ABUNDANT, UNTAMED WILDLIFE ARE THE MAIN AT-TRACTIONS that visitors to the Coastal Bend love mostand with more than two-thirds of all waterfront property available to develop on the Texas Gulf Coast, opportunities to create ideal coastal communities are more abundant here than anywhere in the United States. Along the long, southern stretch of Rockport on Texas Hwy. 35, near the intersec-tion with Hwy. 188, The Islands of Rockport has emerged as the most significant, new community anywhere on the Texas Gulf Coastand not just for its size and locationover 120 acres on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterwaybut for the new, high standard it is setting for architectural design along with high-end amenities.The underwater seagrass and turtle grass beds of Estes Flats and Redfish Bay provide one of the most productive habitats in Texas for big, inshore game fish like Redfish (Red Drum), Speckled Trout (Spotted Sea Trout) and Flounderan area located directly in front of The Islands of Rockport.The developments first phase of about 60, high-value, canal-front lots is sold out and will soon be fully built out. The close-knit community that has evolved share a love of fishing, boating and bird watching, and the advanced-design, canal system of 100- to 150-feet in width provides a safe, pro-tected waterway in which to navigate both bay and large offshore boats.38THE COASTAL BEND GUIDE TheCoastalBend.com'