Outer Banks Fishing

Fishing Unlimited has everything you need for a great fishing trip on the sound – boat rentals, rods and reel rentals, bait and tackle and ice. If you're looking to catch fresh crabs, come try it here; they have the gear to rent or buy, plus a crabbing pier. The boats they rent are 23-foot or 26-foot pontoon boats, and they'll tell you everything you need to know about handling the boats and navigating the sound. Their boat renters almost always see dolphins in the sound areas near the shop and docks. Located on the Manteo-Nags Head Causeway, Fishing Unlimited is convenient for anglers fishing at the Little Bridge, the Nags Head piers and in the surf or for boaters using the boat ramp at Washington Baum Bridge.

The place to be in Nags Head during the summer season, Jennette’s Pier offers anglers a wide variety of fish to target while sightseers can watch brown pelicans overhead and bottlenose dolphins swimming in the sea. The pier is surrounded by wide, clean public beaches, free parking and a bathhouse, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors from near and far. Owned and operated by the N.C. Aquariums, this state-of-the-art facility includes large aquariums in its pier house alongside educational exhibits, restrooms and a remodeled Pier Shop. There, visitors can find Jennette’s Pier t-shirts, hats, visors and plushies. Anglers can also find everything they need for a day of fishing, including different types of rod and reel combos, bait and tackle. Ice-cold drinks, snacks and souvenir items are also available in the gift shop.

The Pier property serves as a frequent venue for community events, and the upstairs Oceanview Hall is available to book for wedding receptions.

Education is a strong suit of Jennette’s Pier. The pier has emerged as a must-see place for schools to visit on the coast. In the past decade, they’ve averaged around 8,000 to 10,000 North Carolina students a year. They host school groups on field trips, offer week-long summer camps and teach Family Fishing – a rundown on the angling essentials – for $20. Check out the Surfside Classroom, or sign up for Family Fishing offered weekdays all summer at 9 a.m. Pier staff also keep busy with two important conservation organizations – the OBX Marine Mammal Stranding Network and the Responsible Pier Initiative, which promises to help protect sea turtles.

The pier has a blanket license for all anglers, so if you don’t have a fishing license, you’re covered. A daily fishing pass costs $14 for adults and $7 for children ages 12 and younger. A three-day pass costs $36, and a seven-day pass is $80 (children pay half on passes). Walk-on passes cost $2 for adults and $1 for children. Rods can be rented by the day for $12 (photo ID required). Ask about prices for annual passes, family passes and pin rig passes. 

For more information about their events and pier programs, call or see their social media pages. Jennette’s is open year-round except on Thanksgiving and Christmas days. In season, from May through October, their hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Off-season hours vary, so call ahead.

OBX Bait and Tackle is an angler’s paradise. Conveniently located in Corolla’s Monteray Plaza to serve the northern beaches and beyond, OBX Bait and Tackle is a full-service tackle shop that specializes in freshwater and surf-fishing equipment along with rods and reels at all price levels, a wide variety of fresh and frozen bait, crabbing supplies and other necessities such as coolers, ice, soft drinks, sunglasses and sunscreen. You can even gear up on apparel with their extensive line of clothing that includes both souvenir t-shirts and fast-drying, UV-protective clothing from top brands such as Salt Life, Costa and Hux. OBX Bait and Tackle is the only shop on the northern beaches that carries fishing licenses, making it the perfect place for one-stop shopping. The folks at OBX Bait and Tackle can arrange offshore, nearshore and inshore fishing charters for everyone from the novice to the pro, and family groups are always welcome. Stop by, call ahead or visit their website for more information, and be sure to check out their free daily fishing reports. 

Oceans East Bait & Tackle on the Nags Head-Manteo Causeway has been in business for more than 40 years. With three locations along the East Coast, they are known for their customer service, huge selection of the best quality tackle, fresh bait, apparel and much more. They offer an excellent selection of inshore, offshore, surf and freshwater tackle from top manufacturers such as Daiwa, Penn, Shimano, Okuma, Gulp, Z-Man, Tsnami, Sea Striker and others and rods from Tica, St. Croix, Toadfish, Fenwick, Ugly Stick, Kunnan and more in addition to custom rods. Their selection of fresh bait includes shrimp, mullet, eels, Baitmasters, ballyhoo, bloodworms, nightcrawlers, squid, minnows and other frozen choices, and their extensive selection of offshore tackle includes Iland Lures, Nomad, Mold Craft, Squid Nation and lots of other candy for the big fish!

Oceans East carries a large selection of apparel and gear for the whole family, including brands such as Aftco, Salty Crew, Billish Gear, 252UNA, Pelagic, HUK, Avid, Grundens, Leather Man belts and sunglasses from Smith, Costa, Suncloud and Calcutta. Oceans East custom t-shirts, shorts, hoodies, jackets and hats are available for the whole family. They have a huge selection of footwear from Xtratuf, Grundens and Buoy Boots as well as a large selection of goods from YETI, Corkcicle and Sun Bum plus gift cards and decals. Oceans East has a shop full of friendly and helpful guys and gals experienced with years of offshore, inshore, surf, kayak, pier and soundside fishing. Stop by for all your fishing needs and a fishing license or to show off a fish and get it weighed, tell a story or just to say hi.

Just about every afternoon between 4 and 5 p.m., a dozen or more sport fishing boats return from the Gulf Stream to the Pirate’s Cove Marina to unload their catches of tuna, dolphin, wahoo and other deep-sea fish. If you’re interested in seeing the fish before they’re cleaned, head down to the docks and watch the mates hurl the whopping creatures onto the docks. Kids love this, and the anglers are friendly about sharing their experiences of the day.

If you’re more of a hands-on type, escape from the same old beach routine and head over to Pirate's Cove Marina and Yacht Club to experience the thrill of a lifetime fishing from one of their offshore charter boats. Your adrenaline will be pumping listening to the scream of the drag while you are reeling in your tuna, dolphin, wahoo and marlin. Or book a near-shore trip and drop deep to catch tile fish, sea bass, trigger fish and grouper, or troll for Spanish mackerel and bluefish. No matter what you choose, Pirate's Cove’s charter fleet will show you a great time. Back at the docks you can stop by the Pirates Cove Ship's Store, where you'll find a great selection of t-shirts, resort wear, gifts and one of the best selections of sunglasses on the Outer Banks. Or you can visit Mimi's Tiki Hut, a dockside bar open in the warmer months, and Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar, a full-service restaurant on the second floor overlooking the marina.  

The Pavilion at Pirate's Cove Marina is home base for three renowned summer fishing tournaments – Pirate's Cove Billfish Tournament, Alice Kelly Memorial Ladies Only Billfish Tournament and Dare County Boat Builders Foundation Tournament – as well as other events. The Pavilion is the largest venue on the Outer Banks and is available for rental, including 24-hour rental, for weddings and other events. A variety of accommodations are available on-site through Pirate's Cove Realty.