Surf: South of the inlet from 1st St, Croatan lefts should peel strongly down the jetty. The peaky take-off fast gives way to a flabby wall and occasionally faster inside section. High tide on a NE swell is best, while the NE wind doesn’t affect it too adversely. Environment: Ridiculous crowds, absurd parking, and anti-surfing residents add to the ambience of this over-rated, average-consistency spot. Park well outside the Croatan parking restrictions and walk in. No facilities. Surf: General: Just across the inlet from 1st Street is one of V.B.'s nicest neighborhoods and most frustrating waves. Croatan is a predominant left breaking off a wooden groin linked to a rock jetty. It's infamous for disappearing lips. Somewhere during a bottom turn on what appears to be a well-formed wedge, the top of the wave mysteriously vanishes, leaving one stranded atop the ghost of a wave.

Croatan does have its moments, specifically at high tide during a nor'easter. The jetty to the north offers some shelter from the wind, while bending the lefts into an occasionally punchy shorebreak. When it does get good, or on any sunny day, crowds flock. While its sister 1st Street is normally a predictable, rolling wave, Croatan's shifting peaks make it an enigma. Therefore, an inexperienced crowd can be even more dangerous. It's not uncommon to be sitting on top of several surfers, waiting for that elusive wedge. Tides: Low to mid tide Size: Chest high-overhead Wind: Southwest to west; can handle NW better than other nearby breaks Swell: SE, NE Bottom: Sand Paddling: Normally not bad but hurricane swells and bigger southeast swells can make it a bit of work. Spot Rating: A fairly consistent spot that likes the lower tides. Access: Large parking lot at the south end of Vanderbilt Avenue. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Can get ridiculously crowded for the quality of wave. Local Vibe: Not too bad. Environment: OK for VB. Hazards: Crowds -- make sure you don't drift too far south, they do target practice down in Pendleton. Season: Storm dependent: tropical cyclones in the late summer and fall with frontal activity and nor'easters in the late fall and winter.