OBX-Outer Banks North Carolina

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, also known as America's Lighthouse, is 208 feet in height. The familiar black and white spiral-striped landmark serves as a warning to mariners of Diamond Shoals which extend almost twenty miles off Cape Hatteras into the Atlantic Ocean. The area is known for its horrific sea conditions during periods of bad weather.

Outer Banks Jolly Roger by north_america

North Carolina fishing piers are famous for excellent saltwater fishing. Many anglers visit piers to catch croakers, spot, and sea mullet, even when surf line is discolored and dirty. When the fishing is good, these fish can be caught two at a time.

During clearer conditions, flounder, bluefish, speckled trout, pompano, and Spanish mackerel move in to the piers. Most fish can be caught on live bait but blues, trout and Spanish macks will often prefer artificial lures. Lead headed jigs, double bucktail rigs, metal spoons and Gotcha plugs are popular pier fishing lures.

Gamefish, such as cobia, king mackerel, jack crevalle, and tarpon are also caught on the piers along the outer banks. Tackle for these fish is heavy duty and special live bait rigs are used for these fish.

Kitty Hawk Fishing Pier - M.P. 2 Kitty Hawk

Avalon Fishing Pier - M.P. 6 Kill Devil Hills (252) 441-7494

Nags Head Fishing Pier - M.P. 11 Nags Head (252) 441-5141

Jennette's Fishing Pier - M.P. 16 1/2 Nags Head

Outer Banks Fishing Pier - M.P. 18 South Nags Head (252) 441-5740

Rip currents and undertows can drag swimmers away from their boat or beach and lead to death by drowning when they attempt to fight the current and become exhausted.

According to the United States Lifesaving Association rip currents cause approximately 100 deaths annually in the United States, more than all other natural hazards except heat and floods. More than 80 percent of rescues by beach lifeguards are due to rip currents totaling 18,000 lifeguard rescues a year.

Tips for swimmers on how to avoid and survive currents:

* Never swim alone.

* Be cautious at all times, especially when swimming at unguarded beaches. If in doubt, don't go out!

* Whenever possible, swim at a lifeguard-protected beach.

* If caught in a rip current, remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.

* Don't fight the current. Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim toward shore or a boat.

* If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim toward shore or a boat.

* If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by facing the shore or boat, waving your arms, and yelling for help.

* If you see someone in trouble, get help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 911. Throw the rip current victim something that floats and yell instructions on how to escape. Remember, many people drown while trying to save someone else from a rip current.

source: USCG press release

Outer Banks History Center displays books and magazines, thousands of photographs, post cards and maps, personal papers and organizational archives, oral histories and other recordings, and much more. The center will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2009 with a special exhibit in the History Center Gallery and series of programs.