Not sure if anyone remembers, but I first asked about moving to the OBX back in February when my wife and I were first considering leaving Hawaii (been there my entire adult life) and I got lots of great advice from the gang here. Since then we sold our condo in Makaha and have spent the last 5 months traveling the US and Canada including 4 long trips to the beaches of North Carolina and Atlantic Canada. We found a place to rent in the Atlantic Beach / Morehead City, NC area and will be spending the winter there (maybe longer once we’ve settled in) and will be heading there later this week. Any locals here with the scoops on surf in the area? I need to get a decent wetsuit and probably a 9’6" or so long board, any shop recommendations?
for a surf report i don’t know of one for atlantic beach but there is one for emerald isle (about 10 miles away) and some other beaches in the area heres the link eastcoastsurf.com
as for surf theres is a swell that looks like it’ll keep some fun sized surf around for a bit, if you can get there earlier thursdays looking like a repeat of yesterday chest and clean
Big K, AB Surf Shop has everything you need, talk to Johnny and Chuck, two very nice people who will set you up for winter surfing in AB. We’ve had a few bad winters for waves. This fall has produced some fun waves hope it continues thru the winter.
No luck, I’m afraid. I won’t be there 'til late Thursday and I won’t have a board yet. I’ll be in the market for a 9’6" as soon as we get there, and might have to (gasp) rent a board until I buy one…
you won’t have any problem finding longboards around here…AB and EI have a pretty limited swell window, but topsail is around 45 minutes south and hatteras is around 3-4 hrs north or so. Hope you are not expecting much out of the eastcoast. its like chest right now, hardly ever gets over head. 13 second groundswell is nonexistent
Chest to hand high is perfect for me and knee to chest is perfect for my wife (also a surfer), so we’re looking forward to what Central NC has to offer. Saw some photos from last Fall at Fort Macon and it looked SWEET! But since I haven’t actually surfed since March I’d be happy with knee knockers!
Do you happen to know if the shops are open this time of year? Looked like most of the island was shut down for the season. What are water temps like right now? All I have is a shorty and booties.
Thanks.
Aloha BK,
I moved to MHC from Oahu 12 yrs ago. Fall and winter are my favorite times as the fronts come through bringing offshore wind and the cold thins the crowd. Occasionally it gets good- we’ve had a few decent shortboardable days recently- but usually it’s all about making the most from the least.So a longboard is a must unless you only want to surf occasionally. Water is 74 now, warmer than usual. Got through last winter with a 3/2, but am going to spring for a 4/3 this year. Plenty surf shops stay open. As the temps get colder I spend more time paddleboarding, untill Jan/Feb it’s about all I’ll do. Just you and the dolphins usually. Funny, I don’t miss HI as much as I thought I would, and this is a great place to raise a kid.
Cheers, foamranger
Thanks Foamranger. I met a couple from Kauai when we visited a couple months ago, and they were also happy to have made the move. First thing I gots to do is find a wetsuit. I’m a big guy, so I’m probably gonna have a hard time finding anything local. I should have gotten Xcel in Haleiwa to make me one while I had the chance. Darn.
Look for me in the line up. I’ll be the big guy with the goat-tee.
BTW, I was told that most of the waves down there are lefts? If that’s true I will definitely be in piggy heaven. I’m goofy and the West Side of Oahu is notin but rights. Hope I haven’t forgotten how to go front-side! 