Ok, so me and a buddy of mine (he lives in New Bern) are going to do a little camping and fishing this weekend. New Bern is apparently 4hrs from Ocrakoke, and just an hour or so from Atlantic.

Here is the thing, I know allot about Wilmington, NC fishing and camping, but I know nothing about the New Bern area. Do you guys have any recomendations for camping on the south OBX (ocrakoke) or Atlantic/Hatteras/Morehead area? We just want to camp one night, and we will be doing it old school with a tent.

Also, as far as surf fishing. I have only done very minor surf fishing (I am mostly set up for Offshore). I have 2 8ft rods with open face reels, and several smaller casting reels. What else do I need to be prepared for? I usually just throw some sinkers with some bottom rigs out in the surf.

10/31/2010 8:22:38 PM

Yes! I've camped at Shackleford Banks and at the Cape. Both were good times.

If you have a boat:
Drive to Beaufort.
Put in at the ramp on Taylor's Creek.
Drive the boat to Cape Lookout.
Camp by the lighthouse.
Go fishing on the hook side or walk over to the ocean side.

If you don't have a boat:
Call some Cape Lookout Ferry service to see if they can get you over there. Some places are seasonal.
Drive to Harker's Island.
Hop the ferry to Cape Lookout with your gear.
See above for activities.
Ride the Ferry Back the next day. (You might have to coordinate a drop-off/pick-up time with them)

Things to note:
There's usually little to no wood on the shore. So you need to bring some firewood. You can't have a fire in the dunes. I'm not sure on that though, it might be that you have to be below the high tide line or something.

10/31/2010 8:32:45 PM

Is there any place to camp that you can camp *on* the beach where you fish?

10/31/2010 8:42:09 PM

Yea. Both Shack and the Cape. You can't camp in the dunes though.

10/31/2010 8:47:38 PM

There is an NPS campground at Ocracoke that is between the highway and dunes.

10/31/2010 9:17:00 PM

Quote :

"Is there any place to camp that you can camp *on* the beach where you fish?"

Lots of places if you're ferrying in. Previously mentioned Cape Lookout & Shackleford Banks. Also, Bear Island (Hammocks Beach state park or something like that.) If you want to camp out of your truck I think Carolina Beach is your best bet. Can you even get a truck to Cape Lookout (at the lighthouse area?) I'm pretty sure you can't (legally) get one to Shackleford Banks.

Most of the OBX shores allow trucks during the day, but they have to be off the beach at 10:00 pm or so. I really like the state run campground at Cape Hatteras (just drive past the lighthouse and follow the signs), because they have their own beach entrance right by where your tent/camper will be set up. Your truck still has to be off the beach at night, but at least you come off the beach and have showers (no heated water!), toilets, etc for $20 a night. You could put 2-3 vehicles and several tents on one $20 camp site.

Take a shit ton of bug spray! Eastern NC will eat your ass up.

[Edited on November 1, 2010 at 12:38 AM. Reason : s]

11/1/2010 12:34:28 AM

Quote :

"Can you even get a truck to Cape Lookout (at the lighthouse area?)"

Yes, lots of people do it. The ferry is at Davis Island. See http://www.drumwagon.com/ for information.

Quote :

"I'm pretty sure you can't (legally) get one to Shackleford Banks."

Here are some logistical reason why couldn't do it:
1) There is no vehicle ferry to Shack, so you would have to provide your own.
2) You couldn't unload the ferry on the ocean side so that leaves the sound side.
3) The sound side is shallow so you couldn't get a ferry close enough.
4) The sound side doesn't have much beach area to drive on.
5) You aren't allowed do drive over the dunes from the sound side to the ocean side.

11/1/2010 9:38:29 PM

I'm trying to figure out why New Bern is 4 hrs from Ocracoke, typo? I've been wanting to do something similiar on the Cape Hatteras (not Lookout - they are different) National Seashore but one of the things that sucks is you have to move your vehicle completely off the beach at night during summer and fall, even if you had planned to park it the whole night during the turtle nesting season. However, from Sep16-Nov15 you can get a permit to drive at night. After that until spring there's no permit required. And yes, you can camp right on the beach just off the dunes. Around this time of year it's kind of wishy washy but I'd say with the colder weather coming in the mid to south OBX would have slightly warmer water and not so much choppy water. I'm not a pro by any means but that's just what I've had more success with when I do full OBX trips and fish out in various places. If you do camp on the beach be sure to take some light reflectors or bright gear to post around your tent incase the park ranger or some redneck is hauling ass through that area on the Hatteras seashore. Most offroaders know their stuff and how to drive safely but all it takes is one idiot to fuck over everyone else. Look around at some of the offroad restrictions to be up to date on any closures for nesting or rehabilitation areas.
http://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=296780

I just like the enjoyment of going offroad and bringing the vehicle so I don't have much info on the Cape Lookout seashore area, but here's some stuff from the horse's mouth. I would imagine the southern edge on the Shackleford banks would have the best chance of catching some fish for the regular surf fishing.
http://www.nps.gov/calo/planyourvisit/upload/camping2007.pdf
http://www.nps.gov/calo/planyourvisit/camping.htm


If you choose to stay around the Wilmington area due to weather or bailing out at the last second there's that little offroad beachfront at the Fort Fisher State Park but there's no camping, only offroading and fishing and I think it's still $10 per day year-round.
http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/fofi/activities.php

11/1/2010 11:48:59 PM

Quote :

"If you have a boat: Drive to Beaufort. Put in at the ramp on Taylor's Creek. Drive the boat to Cape Lookout. Camp by the lighthouse. Go fishing on the hook side or walk over to the ocean side. If you don't have a boat: Call some Cape Lookout Ferry service to see if they can get you over there. Some places are seasonal. Drive to Harker's Island. Hop the ferry to Cape Lookout with your gear. See above for activities. Ride the Ferry Back the next day. (You might have to coordinate a drop-off/pick-up time with them) "

Exactly what he said. "The hook" is a very good place to go fishing.

Quote :

"I'm trying to figure out why New Bern is 4 hrs from Ocracoke, typo? "

It will take you about an 1.5 (at least) from New Bern to get to Cedar Island. You need to show up a little early to the ferry. The ferry is about 2 hours 15 minutes long. Also, you may want to call a reservation for the Cedar Island ferry if you plan on going to Ocracoke.

11/2/2010 7:38:18 AM

Well, we have decided to go to my parents beachouse in Wrightsville and fish the boat offshore. Kings are running to hard down there to pass it up. Plus, condo + bed + fridge is better than a tent anyway.

I still want to do OBX camping though sometime

11/2/2010 9:07:52 AM

http://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm

I've camped at Frisco before and it was A++. My only complaint is it's very close to the onramp for vehicles getting on the beach so sometimes it could get noisy.

11/2/2010 9:20:23 AM

^^Weak sauce

11/2/2010 6:33:56 PM