 |
 There
are five constants on the Outer Banks - Sand, Water, Wind, Birds
and Fishermen. Cape
Point at Hatteras is a mecca for surf fishermen with their
trusty 4WD
vehicles, bedecked with poles and coolers. Cape Lookout's
relative isolation makes it more difficult for surf fishing
devotees to come en masse, but still they come. Park Service
approved private vehicle ferries are available to transport
trucks and campers onto the Core Banks.
Cape Hatteras in particular can provide
a spectacular backdrop for fishermen as the waves at Cape Point
crash and surge against each other.
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Above
- Fishermen at Cape Point, Hatteras are surrounded
by surf and a golden sunset.
Below - The point at Cape Lookout attracts
the faithful. |
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This broiling battle comes from the fact
that Cape Point is where the cold southbound Labrador Current
meets head on with the warm northbound current of the Gulf Stream.
Add a stiff breeze off the ocean and the salt spray will fly.
All along the beaches of both the Cape
Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores, surf
fishing is extremely popular. Both day and night you will
find a steady stream of fishermen
in 4WD's at beach access ramps. Each in turn makes their
way onto the beach to pick a desirable
spot to settle down and cast into the crashing surf. The
hardier souls camp at the many Park Service camping areas and
simply walk a few feet over the dunes to reach the surf for
a day of meditating with the sun and waves. Whole families come
to fish while the kids play in the sand, chase gulls and build
sand castles.
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Pier
fishing, both ocean and sound, is another popular option that
brings many to places like Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Rodanthe,
Avon and Frisco. Crab and Flounder are two favorites to be found
in the sounds. BYOB (that's Bring Your Own Boat, of course)
and join thousands who find their own paradise fishing and boating
in the vast sound waters of North Carolina's coast.
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Surfers
spend a day of fun at
Cape Lookout. |
The lure of the Outer Banks' peaceful,
uncluttered setting is an attraction for many other sports enthusiasts
besides fishermen. More and more surfers
are finding this coast a convenient spot to enjoy their own
brand of fishing, casting about for that great
wave. Surfers used to the crowded conditions of such areas
as Myrtle Beach will find the Outer Banks a refreshing change.
Miles of open beaches, often with not a soul in sight, offer
far greater freedom to enjoy their favorite sport. (More
surfing photos are available here.)
 Canoeing
and kayaking are enjoyed by the casual paddler and the serious
enthusiast alike. Both the mainland side of the sound, as well
as the barrier island side, offer a vast array of interesting
tours by paddle. There are plenty of places to "put in" all
along the sound side of the Outer Banks.
The wind and shallow water of Pamlico
Sound make it an ideal place for sailboarding,
or windsurfing, and parasurfing.
These sports are enjoyed all along the sound. An especially
popular haunt is the sound south of Avon, where the island is
very narrow, immediately north of Buxton. Other popular places
to "put in" are at the "day use area" just south of Salvo, about
100 yards north of mile marker 41, where there is also a Civil
War monument and graveyard, and at the nature trail access and
parking area on the southwest corner of Jockey's Ridge State
Park.
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These
are only some of the many and varied sporting and recreational
activities enjoyed along North Carolina's Outer Banks. Fall
and winter offer sport hunting for ducks and geese in the National
Seashore. All along the inland coast ther are wildlife refuges
and both public and private preserves that provide hunting opportunities
as well. |
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