Topsail Island is a long stretch of shifting beachbreaks, taking in Topsail Beach, Surf City and Del Mar Beach to the north. The banks sit over sand and are always on the move, so flexibility and plenty of surf checks are the name of the game here. There's usually somewhere working at a given tide, and the peaks next to the piers tend to be the pick.
When It Works
Both lefts and rights peel off the sandbars, and the setup draws swell from northeast through east-southeast to south. It's usable from 0.6 m / 2 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft, so there's a decent window between too small and too big. Consistency is average across the island, but the sheer length of beach means you can nearly always track down a bank that's switched on.
Wind and Tide
Look for northwest offshore wind to clean things up. The banks can work through low, mid and high tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
It's a laid-back spot that only fills up in the peak holiday season, so expect an easygoing lineup most of the year on this clean, residential island. Since the beachbreaks are constantly reshaping, it pays to check a few peaks before paddling out. The sand next to the piers is usually best, so scope the Topsail Beach Pier to the south, the One Eyed Pier in the middle and the Atlantic Pier to the north.
Access
There's a surf shop on the island, plus a car park with free parking.
