Surf: General: Officially known as the Oceanic Pier, this is one of Wrightsville Beach’s most popular breaks. Not nearly as powerful or hollow as C-Street to the north or even the South End jetty, but perhaps more consistent. Will pick up everything from northerly windswell to SE hurricane swell, but shuts down after the waves reach a couple feet overhead. Crystal Pier breaks on all tides and on both sides, but most of the action is concentrated on the south side. Tides: Best on an incoming tide due to the wave’s reforming nature. Size: Knee-high to a few feet overhead. Wind: W, NW Swell: N-S Bottom: Sand. Paddling: You’ll spend more time paddle-jockeying than duck-diving. Spot Rating: Not Wrightsville’s best beachbreak, but probably its most consistent. Access: Scarce parking, and expensive in summer — roadside meters and pay lots. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Controlled chaos — all types of surfers on all types of equipment battling for limited resources at a pier bowl. Collisions are common. It’s surprising there aren’t more fights here. Local Vibe: Clueless collegiate crowds vs. salty old farts vs. homegrown hot kids. Nobody wins. Environment: Where there’s a pier, there’s litter. Big storms can direct agricultural runoff from inland rivers through the ICW through the inlets and into your face. However, this spot historically passed water quality tests at least 95% of the time. Hazards: Fiberglass projectiles, angry fishermen, meter-maids and sharks. Season: September-December