Various aspects of the Outer Banks attract visitors: history, surfing, family time, sight-seeing and fishing, to name a few. That last one, fishing, is a major pull. Oregon Inlet opens up to world class waters, there's even an entire television series featuring OBX fishing -- Wicked Tuna!
There are a variety of ways to get your line in the water. One of the most popular ways is by fishing from the piers. This offers you an advantage over surf fishing, as it gets you farther out on the water. It also doesn't require as much of a time commitment or the price tag of charter fishing. Not to mention, the views from the pier are great! You get a whole new perspective of the beach while hopefully reeling in something special!
In addition to fishing, the piers are great places for sight-seeing, live music, sunbathing, and photo opportunities!
Below are piers on the Outer Banks listed from North to South.
Duck Research Pier - The US Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility
This is not a fishing pier, but it is certainly the most unique of them all! The 1,840-foot steel and concrete pier is seemingly mysterious, as it's private and the grounds are gated, but it's actually home to unsurpassed coastal research. According to the US Army Corps of Engineers' website, "Few locations on the globe provide a better archive of wave, water, bathymetry and other forces that shape nearshore conditions." It's pretty neat to have such sophisticated science right here on our little sandbar!
Kitty Hawk Pier
This Kitty Hawk Pier is located on the Southern Shores/Kitty Hawk line, and across from the Southern Shores Realty office! The original pier was built in 1953, but what we see today is not the same pier that it once was. After many hurricanes have destroyed the pier, it's been rebuilt and renovated. The most recent destruction was in 2003 as Hurricane Isabel ravaged the coast. It was reconstructed and reopened in 2008.
Kitty Hawk pier is not only great for fishing, but it is also a popular location for weddings and special events!
Avalon Pier
Located in the heart of Kill Devil Hills, this 700-foot pier is a staple of the OBX. This pier offers fishing bait and rentals. In addition to fishing, folks enjoy the Avalon Pier because it also has an arcade, billiards, a bar, and it even serves up snacks. There is often live music, especially during the summer months.
Nags Head Fishing Pier
One of North Carolina's longest and oldest piers, the Nags Head Fishing Pier is located at milepost 11.5. This 750ft pier offers a full service tackle shop. What's so great about fishing here is that you can take your catch into their dining facilities, Pier House Restaurant and Capt. Andy's Oceanfront Tiki Bar and Grill, and they will cook your catch right on the spot. Their slogan is "You hook 'em -- We cook 'em!" It doesn't get any fresher than that!
Jennette's Pier
An absolute beauty. This photogenic structure is also the state's longest pier as it stretches a whopping 1,000 ft over the ocean! Jennette's was the first pier ever on the OBX. As it goes with piers out here, hurricanes and storms have taken out the original structure. The most recent and most significant rebuild occurred after Hurricane Isabel pummeled through the previous pier. The current structure was opened in 2011.
Not only a full-service fishing pier, Jennette's also has an education center, an aquarium, hosts summer camps, film festivals, surf competitions, and so much more! It truly is a hub of Nags Head activities.
Outer Banks Fishing Pier
The southernmost of all 3 of Nags Heads fishing piers, this one is located a little bit off the beaten path. It's located in an area called South Nags Head, the community south of Whalebone Junction, where all the highways converge near the causeway. Since most folks keep to the highways, and if you're headed to Hatteras, you're more than likely taking Highway 12, this is an easy one to miss. It's located on Old Oregon Inlet road.
This pier is popular for fishing, surfing, and for it's restaurant Fish Heads. There is often live music, and just a general feel-good vibe when you're there.
Bonner Bridge Pier
The Outer Banks newest pier! While the structure itself isn't new at all, it is living a new life. This was once the only way visitors and islanders could travel from Hatteras Island to the mainland of NC. Now, it is functioning as a great fishing spot and hang out. It's not located on the oceanfront like the other piers, it is located in Oregon Inlet, offering a unique experience with picturesque views of Pea Island and the Bodie Island Lighthouse. Access is free of charge, but a NC fishing license is required if you wish to drop a line. Check out our blog on the Bonner Bridge Pier.
Rodanthe Pier
This pier is located on Hatteras Island in the lovely village of Rodanthe. You may recognize this pier from the big screen, as it was in the Nicholas Sparks' major motion picture, Nights in Rodanthe. Offering a bait & tackle shop as well a gift shop, game room, and snacks, this is a fun spot to hang out while enjoying a day down south!
Avon Pier
Not to be confused with the Avalon pier, this structure is located down in the Tri-Villages of Hatteras Island and is the southernmost pier on the Outer Banks. It opened its doors in 1963 and is a place for all to enjoy. Ever since a world-record breaking red drum (94-lbs) was caught next to the pier in 1984, fishermen have flocked here in hopes of catching one of their own. While it's known for its Red Drum, it's also a gorgeous place to sight see and take in the beach from a new perspective. Catch a sunrise from the pier, or enjoy the entertainment of nearby surfers from a unique vantage point. Whatever brings you to Avon, the pier is a great stop along the way!
