Ocean Isle Beach Pier surf guide
Surf: This long stretch of south-facing beach is popular in summer with average peaks from mid to high tide only. After an hour of outgoing, things deteriorate rapidly.
Can attract a crowd escaping from the manic Myrtle Beach area. Some localism in summer.
Surf: General: The best sandbars are near the pier but Ocean Isle suffers from the same affliction of the nearby spots -- a very limited swell window. The waves here are punchy shorebreak waves, working on incoming tides mostly. There's a good right that reels off the pier from time to time, especially during hurricane swells. These beaches, while being among the warmest and most beautiful in the state, are also the most swell-starved, and it takes a strong S swell to create a significant wave.
Tides: Mid to higher tide
Size: Chest-head high
Wind: North
Swell: S, SE
Bottom: Sand
Paddling: Not bad at all.
Spot Rating: Needs the right swell and wind combo to be worthwhile.
Access: Plenty of free parking areas.
Crowds: Crowd Factor: Not an issue.
Local Vibe: Pretty much no vibe.
Environment: Not bad.
Hazards: Desolation, paralyzing beauty, small sharks, OI locals and perpetual boredom.
Season: Storm dependent: tropical cyclones in the late summer and fall with frontal activity from late fall through winter into spring.