Surf Forecast  Figure Eight and Shell Islands

Figure Eight and Shell Islands surfspot characteristics

More about Figure Eight and Shell Islands surfspot

General: For years this area -- and most notably the town of Wrightsville Beach, one of the oldest beach resorts in North Carolina -- enjoyed a fair amount of anonymity in the surfing world. That was, until a flashy, mild-mannered regularfoot named Ben Bourgeois exploded on the scene. With his teeth cut on the crystal thin lips of Wrightsville beachbreaks, Ben steadily gained worldwide exposure as one of the most dynamic young rippers in the sport today. Ben is still the only NC surfer to ever qualify for the World Tour, and there are dozens of groms from Wrightsville to Kure Beach hoping to follow suit.</br></br>Although significantly less powerful and consistent than the Outer Banks, Wrightsville still comes through more often than not. And in terms of variety of breaks, subculture acceptance and dedicated populace, Wrightsville Beach is the best surfing environment in Southern North Carolina. Unfortunately, though there are several good breaks in the New Hanover area, the beaches have suffered an overcrowding problem in the past 10 years or so, partially due to the booming popularity of the nearby University of North Carolina at Wilmington. College-bound surfers are particularly vulnerable to the hook of school at the beach, resulting in a nerve-racking surfing experience on some days. Still, most surfers here, local and transplant, take it all in stride and recognize that the town has more positives than negatives, more shakas than middle fingers and just enough stoke to go around (so far).</br></br>Figure Eight Island stretches five miles from Rich Inlet to Mason Inlet. It's basically a private community of the wealthy elite that is inaccessible without a pass or special permission. That doesn't keep surfers from finding their ways in, but the only way to check it is by making the paddle northward from Shell Island across the inlet.</br></br>If you're not into exploring or paddling, Shell Island itself is usually a great place to check when all the rest of Wrightsville Beach looks like crap. Lying at the north end of Wrightsville Beach is a high-rise Holiday Inn that marks the point between Wrightsville and Shell Island. Moore's Inlet separated the two islands until 1965 when the geniuses of the Corps of Engineers filled the Inlet with dredged sound material to extend Wrightsville Beach. Then they built a hotel on the filled Inlet.</br></br>Despite these brilliant achievements, surfers usually paddle out here unimpressed, meaning that the waves here appeal mainly to the New Hanover County area's longboarders. Tropical south swells have been known to produce conditions of epic proportions along these islands, so it might be worth a look. Just drive north until you can't anymore and check out the swell. You can usually get an idea of what's happening on Figure Eight by how Shell Island is picking up the swell. Bring the binoculars if you're really serious. Tides: Low to mid tide Size: Chest high-overhead Wind: West Swell: S, SE Bottom: Sand Paddling: Normally not bad but south swells can sometimes have some current to contend with. Spot Rating: Another stretch of beach that has its moments on the right wind/swell combo.

Good place for beginners.

You need a pass to cross the bridge over onto Figure Eight Island, otherwise you can paddle from the north end of Shell Island. During super low tides, you can almost walk over.

Storm dependent: tropical cyclones in the late summer and fall with frontal activity from late fall through winter into spring.

Crowd Factor: Pretty mellow. Local Vibe: Pretty mellow.

Normally OK but with enough rain or a hurricane it can get a little nasty.

Parking.