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 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.
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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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Related
Links -
Beach Ramp access map and information
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| Visit
these other web sites by Fred Hurteau |
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