Surf City Pier Surf Guide

Surf City Pier Surf Guide

The beaches of Surf City and Topsail are referred to as the Onslow County beaches and are characterized by weak south swells that produce few surprises during the summer and fall months. Frequented mostly by marines and Wrightsville strayers looking for a different swell direction, it's sadly true that the bads outnumber the goods here. You might stumble upon something worth riding, but generally, these are not prime surfing destinations, even by North Carolina standards.

Lying on the north side of the 22-mile-long island of Topsail, Surf City functions mainly as a military center and a vacation spot for Jacksonville weekenders (mostly from Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base nearby). The name of the town is a double misnomer: it's far from a city, and as far as surf is concerned, you'd be better off getting the detergent. The Pier offers a dribbly reform that sometimes provides enough juice to be deemed a shorebreak. If you're desperate, veer off 17 to turn toward Topsail Island. As soon as you enter the town of Surf City, take a right and follow the road until it takes you right up on the pier.