Located near the Outer Banks you can find Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. This picturesque spot is known for its crystal blue waters, water-based activities, a plethora of surf shops and restaurants and it is also named one of the top surfing towns in the world with one of the most crowded lineups on the East Coast.
Wrightsville Beach Surf Guide
Waves in Wrightsville Beach
If you’re looking to join the lineup you can expect fairly consistent, gentle waves year-round, unless you’re lucky enough to catch a hurricane swell, with a mix of ground and wind swells.
There are several beach breaks that you can find around Wrightsville Beach that make for some of the best waves on the East Coast. The most notable are C Street and Crystal Pier.
Along Columbia Street, in the middle of the Wrightsville Beach strip, you can find C Street. C Street is one of the most crowded spots in Wrightsville Beach to surf with a sand-bottom beach break. It’s a fabulous spot with its shore break peaks during hide tide but once the tide has dropped and the swell comes rolling, the conditions get even better. Its ideal conditions are S or SE swell with wind from the W or NW.
South of Wrightsville Beach on Lumina Ave, is where you can find the next spot: Crystal Pier. This is one of Wrightsville Beach’s most popular breaks; however, it lacks the power and hollowness of the waves you will find at C Street and has far less of a break. There you’ll find consistent waves no matter the swell with breaks on all tides and on both sides, particularly concentrated on the south side, which tends to draw in a more intermediate crowd. For this spot, the ideal conditions are N or S swell with W or NW winds.
The best time of the year to make your way to Wrightsville beach for the surf would be Sepeter-Novemeber when the waves are crisp, clean and consistent. The water will still be a tad warm and the wind is usually light which eliminates the chop.
Regardless of the season or weather, if you want to catch a few, you should try paddling out around one to three hours after low tide and note that the best swells in this location come from the southeast, east and northeast with a good wind direction of northwest, west and southwest.
Surf Culture in Wrightsville Beach
The surf culture, from the waves to the streets of the town, goes way back. The atmosphere has always been warm and welcoming to surfers of any skill level and it’s the perfect place for a laid-back session.
Because it is home to some of the best waves along the East Coast, Wrightsville Beach stays true to its 100-plus years of surf history with themed restaurants, surf camps and several surf shops along the town that are all fairly close to each other.
The most notable shops for all your gear and goodies would have to be Surf City Surf Shop, The Annex Surf Supply, South End Surf Shop and Sweetwater Surf Shop.
At these shops, you can expect to find beachwear supplied by popular brands such as Quicksilver, Vans, Billabong, etc., boutique surf brands, local art and, of course, surf supplies.
Gear Needed to Surf in Wrightsville Beach
During the summer months, you are all set to head out in your typical beach day attire of bikinis and boardshorts but once the colder months hit in the fall and winter it’s advised that you suit up.
A 3/2 mm or 4/3 mm wetsuit is ideal for the frigid waters during this time and it’s recommended that you keep some booties, gloves and a hood on standby just in case.
Once spring rolls around and the water starts to become a bit more bearable, a spring suit is the perfect in-between to hold you over until it’s time to dig out the bikinis and boardshorts once again.
In terms of boards, you really can’t go wrong, it’s simply preference and skill level. Some prefer a shortboard for the occasional larger swells in areas such as C Street; however, longboards are also great for year-round surfing on the beach’s consistent, gentle waves. If you’re renting, a longboard might be the way to go.
The 3 Best Surf Locations in Wrightsville Beach
Aside from C Street and Crystal Pier, three other spots are essential to drop into in Wrightsville Beach.
Shell Island Resort
Located on the northern end of Wrightsville Beach you will find Shell Island but it's best to arrive early as the parking lot is small and fills up quickly on the weekends.
If you happen to secure a spot and make your way down to the shore, you’ll find that the break is rather powerful and wedging. This spot produces a steep, hollow A-frame wave that is heavily influenced by the tide.
Mason’s Inlet Jetty
Mason’s Inlet is another fairly crowded spot that requires getting out there during the early morning. It’s exposed to sandbar breaks which makes it a seasonal spot for surfers. Waves will peel off from the rock jetty that forms at the inlet’s northern end. It mainly receives a mix of groundswells and wind swells and the ideal swell comes from the southeast.
Beach Access #4
Beach Access #4 is a public beach access point. Here you can expect free parking and far less of a crowd if you arrive before 9 am Bath facilities can be found on the access as well.
This spot is also known for its rotating sandbars that change depending on the weather and tide which makes it a remarkable surf spot if you happen to catch it at the right time.
What To Do in the Wrightsville Beach When the Waves are Flat
If you find yourself in the area and the waves simply aren’t doing it for you, no worries! There’s still tons to do to fill your time while you're on the East Coast.
If you still want to be one with the water, take a relaxing beach walk or head over to a local shop, rent some fishing gear for the day and head over to Johnnie Mercer's Fishing Pier.
Wrightsville is known to be an angler’s paradise and on this pier, you can expect to catch a variety of fish. It’s also a great family-friendly spot that has staff that will help you with all things tackle and technique.
If fishing isn’t your thing and you’d rather sit, chat and have a bite, there are a few must-visit spots to savor the fresh seafood the town has to offer.
Grab your friends and family and head to South Beach Grill to watch the boats on the back patio while trying some of their staple plates such as the shrimp and grits. Shark Bar and Kitchen is another top-rated spot.
You really can’t go wrong with a visit to Wrightsville Beach. Whether you’re there to surf the crisp waves the beaches have to offer or you’re there to simply unwind, this spot has so much to offer and is certainly a must-see.
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