The best place to go off the coast of North Carolina is SHARK ISLAND! It is a small island that is located a few miles of the shoals, past Cape Lookout. It is not far from the cape but has a lot less amount of people. More tourists, or as us locals call "shoobies" or "howlies", go to the cape now. You should probably have a bigger boat that is not flat bottom to go to Shark Island since the waves can be a little rough getting out there sometimes. I would suggest going if swells are between 2-3 ft.
It is called Shark Island for a reason but don't let it deter you from coming here. There are sharks that swim in the surrounding water of the island but they generally are out past the second sand bar. They are harmless and most people don't swim out that far.
Since Shark Island is unknown by most and not populated by many, the wild life here is remarkable. On any given day you can count on swimming in the same area as dolphin. There are also starfish and sand dollars that cover the sand here. The fish and other wild life is like you would never see anywhere else. Snorkeling is great here, too, because the water is so clear.
On the far side there are perfect waves for surfing, while on the left there is a great area to do some cast fishing. Snorkeling is great anywhere on the island! We spend the whole day soaking up the sun and water activities out here exploring the ocean. For lunch we usually bring stuff to grill. We bring a grill rack and lay it on big conch shells we find from all over the island. This makes for a perfect lunch!
Next time you are in the area, get yourself a waterways map and head out to Shark Island for the most amazing time you will ever have!
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| Our boat and some friends' boats beached at Shark Island. |
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| Our grill made in the sand |
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| Football on the Island |
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| Dad and I doing a little cast fishing from the boat |
