The Outer Banks has six ocean fishing piers open to the public: Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head Pier, Jennette’s Pier and the Outer Banks Fishing Pier in Nags Head, and Rodanthe and Avon piers on Hatteras Island. A day pass at the piers that post prices runs $12 to $15 for adults, most rent rods and sell bait, and several say you do not need your own fishing license on the pier.
Hours and prices last checked September 10, 2026, on each pier’s own website. They change, so confirm before you drive.
- Six piers are open to the public, from Avalon Pier at milepost 6 in Kill Devil Hills south to Avon on Hatteras Island.
- Jennette’s Pier is open all year. Rodanthe and Avon open in spring and close for the winter.
- The Outer Banks Fishing Pier and Rodanthe Pier both say no fishing license is needed on the pier. At the others, ask when you buy your pass.
- Adult day passes run $12 at the Outer Banks Fishing Pier and $15 at Jennette’s and Rodanthe.
- Kitty Hawk Pier is open only to Hilton Garden Inn guests, and the old Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier in Frisco is gone.
The six public fishing piers on the Outer Banks
Here they are north to south, with what each pier posts about itself.
| Pier | Where | Hours posted | Adult day pass | Your own license? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalon Pier | Kill Devil Hills, milepost 6 | Summer: 6 a.m. to midnight | Ask at the pier | Ask at the pier |
| Nags Head Pier | Nags Head, milepost 11.5 | 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily (2026) | Ask at the pier | Ask at the pier |
| Jennette’s Pier | Nags Head, 7223 S. Virginia Dare Trail | May to October 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; April and November 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; December to March 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | $15 ($10 age 12 and under), plus tax | Ask at the pier |
| Outer Banks Fishing Pier | South Nags Head, milepost 18.5 | 24 hours in peak season | $12 (3 days $30, week $70) | No |
| Rodanthe Pier | Rodanthe, Hatteras Island | June to mid-September 6 a.m. to midnight; shorter hours in spring and fall | $15 ($10 age 10 and under) | No |
| Avon Pier | Avon, Hatteras Island | Opened April 2 for 2026; call for current hours | Ask at the pier | Ask at the pier |
Avalon Pier — Kill Devil Hills
Avalon sits at milepost 6 on the Beach Road in Kill Devil Hills. Its posted summer hours are 6 a.m. to midnight, and the pier house sells bait and rents rods. Full Avalon Pier guide.
Nags Head Pier — Nags Head
Nags Head Pier is at milepost 11.5 and is open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day for 2026 under new owners, with a bait and tackle shop, a cafe and a beach bar. Do not mix it up with the Outer Banks Fishing Pier, seven miles south. Full Nags Head Pier guide.
Jennette’s Pier — Nags Head
Jennette’s is run by the North Carolina Aquariums. It is a modern concrete pier, it is open all year with hours that change by season, and it is fully ADA accessible. An adult day pass is $15. Fishing for king mackerel and cobia takes an extra $15 pass. Full Jennette’s Pier guide.
Outer Banks Fishing Pier — South Nags Head
The Outer Banks Fishing Pier is at milepost 18.5 in South Nags Head. It is 600 feet long, open around the clock in peak season, and says no fishing license is needed on the pier. A day pass is $12, rods rent for $7, and Fish Heads Bar & Grill is at the foot of the pier. Full Outer Banks Fishing Pier guide.
Rodanthe Pier
Rodanthe Pier opened for 2026 on March 28. Its season runs from the weekend before Easter to the weekend after Thanksgiving, and it says no fishing license is needed on the pier. A day pass is $15, or $10 for kids 10 and under, fishing with live bait costs $15, and rods rent for $12. There is live music on summer weeknights. Full Rodanthe Pier guide.
Avon Pier
Avon Pier opened in the early 1960s as the first fishing pier on Hatteras Island. New owners took over in July 2025, and it opened for 2026 on April 2. The beach near Avon is where the world-record red drum, just over 94 pounds, was caught in 1984. Full Avon Pier guide.
Piers You Can’t Fish (Gone or Private)
Not every pier that shows up in search results is one you can actually fish. The Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier, also known as Frisco Pier, is gone for good — it was damaged by Hurricane Earl in 2010, closed to the public, and fully removed by the National Park Service between December 2017 and spring 2019. There’s no pier left to fish here, whatever older articles or search results might suggest.
Kitty Hawk Pier still stands, but it’s privately operated by the Hilton Garden Inn — fishing access is for hotel guests, not the general public, and the pier house is an event venue.
What to Catch from OBX Piers
Spanish Mackerel — Summer and fall. One of the top pier-fishing targets on the OBX. Fast fish that hit metal jigs, Clarkspoons, and small cut bait. The trick is casting ahead of feeding schools and retrieving fast. When Spanish are running, the whole pier knows it.
Bluefish — Year-round, with peaks in spring and fall. Blues hit almost anything that moves. Wire leader or heavy fluorocarbon required. Metal jigs, Gotcha plugs, and large cut bait all work. Wear gloves when handling them.
King Mackerel — Late summer and fall, when big kings come within reach of the longer piers. Pier king fishermen use a trolley rig: an anchor line cast out first, with a live bait slid down it. Jennette’s Pier charges a separate king mackerel and cobia pass.
Spot and Croaker — The bread and butter of OBX pier fishing. Small, excellent eating, always around from summer through fall. Blood worms, shrimp, and squid on small hooks. Great for kids or anyone who just wants consistent action.
Red Drum — Best at the Hatteras Island piers in fall. Cut mullet on a fish-finder rig works the same as on the beach. North Carolina lets you keep one per person per day, 18 to 27 inches long.
Flounder — They hold around the pilings, and a bucktail tipped with a strip of bait worked slowly along the bottom catches them. North Carolina’s 2026 flounder season was only September 1 to 14, so outside those dates every flounder goes back.
Pier Fishing vs. Surf Fishing — Which Is Right for You?
Pier fishing is the right call if: you don’t have a 4x4, you’re fishing with kids, you want amenities (bathrooms, bait on site, someone to answer questions), you’re targeting Spanish mackerel or king mackerel (better from piers), or you just want to be somewhere with other people around.
Surf fishing is better for: red drum at Cape Point in fall, solitude and access to remote beaches, the experience of reading structure and finding your own fish, and situations where the beach is producing more than the piers.
Many OBX regulars do both — piers for Spanish mackerel in summer, surf for drum in fall. There’s no wrong answer.
Pier Fishing Licenses
The Outer Banks Fishing Pier and Rodanthe Pier both say you do not need a fishing license to fish from the pier, because the pier’s own license covers you. At the other piers, ask when you buy your pass. The moment you step off the pier to fish the beach, you need your own North Carolina Coastal Recreational Fishing License if you are 16 or older. See the fishing license guide.
Where to Camp Near the Piers
Most OBX fishing piers have a campground within 15 minutes. Jennette’s and Avalon pair with Nags Head campgrounds; Rodanthe Pier pairs with Tri-Villages parks; Avon Pier with Avon Camping. Full pairing guide: OBX RV camping guide.
Outer Banks pier fishing FAQ
How many fishing piers are on the Outer Banks?
Six are open to the public: Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head Pier, Jennette’s Pier and the Outer Banks Fishing Pier in Nags Head, and Rodanthe and Avon piers on Hatteras Island. Kitty Hawk Pier also stands, but it is open only to Hilton Garden Inn guests.
Do you need a fishing license to fish from a pier on the Outer Banks?
Usually not. The Outer Banks Fishing Pier and Rodanthe Pier both say no license is needed on the pier, because the pier license covers you. At the other piers, ask when you buy your pass, and remember you need your own license once you fish from the beach.
How much does it cost to fish an Outer Banks pier?
Adult day passes are $12 at the Outer Banks Fishing Pier and $15 at Jennette’s Pier and Rodanthe Pier, with lower prices for kids. Multi-day, weekly and season passes are cheaper per day if you fish often. Prices were last checked September 10, 2026.
Which Outer Banks pier is open all year?
Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head is open all year, closing only on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Its hours are shortest from December through March.
Is there a pier open 24 hours on the Outer Banks?
Yes. The Outer Banks Fishing Pier in South Nags Head is open 24 hours a day in peak season. Most of the other piers close late in the evening.
Can you still fish the Frisco pier on Hatteras Island?
No. The Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier in Frisco was damaged by Hurricane Earl in 2010 and later removed by the National Park Service, so there is no pier left to fish there.