Outer Banks - 6.29.11 - Pretty at Avalon Pier

With all the Outer Banks has to offer – beach, wild horses, Wright Brothers, Black Beard the Pirate, surfing, fishing, Jockey’s Ridge, beach driving, art, seafood, nature preserves, amazing wildlife…the list seems endless – the OBX fishing piers are often overlooked.

Well, all the piers are the same, right?…long wooden structures with some good fishing and great views, but if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.

Not so fast. You may be surprised at just how much variety the Outer Banks fishing piers offer, and with the arrival of the new Jennette’s Pier, the piers have been taken to an entirely new level of fun, education, amazing views, and world-class fishing.

For today’s installment, we’re going to turn the “Spotlight” on the Outer Banks Fishing Piers.

The five fishing piers located on the northern beaches of the Outer Banks are Kitty Hawk, Avalon, Nags Head, Jennette’s and Outer Banks Fishing Pier, all of which are unique.

The Kitty Hawk Pier is now privately owned and part of the Hilton Garden Inn. The pier is still available for daily fishing, and the gorgeous pier house can be booked through the Hilton for private events…an awesome spot for an Outer Banks wedding!

The Avalon Pier is located on the Oceanfront in Kill Devil Hills, at Mile Post 6. It is 696 feet long. The pier is usually open from 5:00 am — 2:00 am during the summer months. During the Spring and Fall, they open at 6:00 am and close when things slow down which is usually right before 10:00 pm. They sell all kinds of bait including bloodworms, squid, mullet, shrimp, and artificial lures. They also rent tackle. When you enter the Avalon Pier, you almost feel like you are stepping back in time…in a great way. It feels like the OBX from the 70′s…complete with an old-school arcade!

The Nags Head Fishing Pier offers a great fishing pier as well as a bait & tackle shop for all of your fishing needs. Also on site is a The Pier House Restaurant and The Pier Cottages. There are 6 cottages available ranging from 1-bedroom to 4-bedrooms. Daily rates are available for the cottages, though there is a 3-night minimum stay. This pier is great for fishing or taking in the views, but the highlight for me is the breakfast! Arguably the best OBX breakfast spot. 1. Because the breakfast is delicious (classic diner style) and 2. Because you can’t beat the view overlooking the ocean!

Jennette’s Pier, the oldest fishing pier on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, was built in 1939. This historic ocean landmark has weathered dozens of hurricanes and nor’easters over the past six decades.

Now wwned by the North Carolina Aquarium Society, the oldest fishing pier on the Outer Banks provides a great fishing experience for the entire family. The main exhibit, Giants of the Sea, showcases state-record trophy fish mounts and five aquariums with indigenous fish species on display. The pier also houses an outpost for the North Carolina Aquarium Education Department, which offers a wide variety of coastal educational opportunities for children of all ages. Aquarium education classes run Monday — Friday between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Last but not least, the Outer Banks Fishing Pier is open 24 hours a day. Daily, weekend and weekly passes are available, as well as group rates and senior citizen discounts. Bait and tackle are available at the Pier, as well as rentals of tackle, bicycles, umbrellas, chairs and boogie boards. Fishing charters are also available through Outer Banks Fishing Unlimited.

I’ll zip it so you can enjoy the tour…