Coastal conditions
Shore · North Carolina · Southeast Atlantic / Southern North Carolina
Kure Beach Fishing Pier is a southern North Carolina ocean-pier fishery with direct access to surf-zone and nearshore Atlantic water. Red drum, spotted seatrout, spanish mackerel, and bluefish are the principal supported targets.
Rip Current Statement
Severity: Moderate
Rip Current Statement issued October 20 at 2:14AM EDT until October 20 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Begins Oct 20, 2026, 2:14 AM · Ends Oct 20, 2026, 8:00 PM
Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions. Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore…
High Surf Advisory
Severity: Minor
High Surf Advisory issued October 20 at 2:14AM EDT until October 20 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Begins Oct 20, 2026, 2:14 AM · Ends Oct 20, 2026, 8:00 AM
Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions. Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore…
Fair
BetaConditions are mixed. Review the details below before heading out.
Trip conditions only. Target-species activity and seasonal fishery patterns are not yet included.
Do Not Go
Safety gate
An active Beach Hazards Statement affects this destination.
See the active alert cards above for official details.
Evaluates trip conditions using weather, tides, currents, waves, daylight, and active alerts.
Degraded
Coastal conditions are partial, stale, or predictions-only.
No recent observations are available.
No recent observations are available.
North Carolina · Southeast Atlantic / Brunswick / Oak Island · Shore
Approximately 11.2 miles away
North Carolina · Southeast Atlantic / Southern North Carolina · Shore
Approximately 16.6 miles away
North Carolina · Southeast Atlantic / Topsail · Shore
Approximately 36.3 miles away
Falling
Next low tide
Oct 20, 2026, 9:19 AM
In 1 hr 35 min
1.2 ft MLLW
Previous
High · Oct 20, 2026, 3:32 AM · 3.6 ft MLLW
Following
High · Oct 20, 2026, 3:57 PM · 4.4 ft MLLW
Tide prediction proxy
Wilmington Beach · NOAA 8658559
This nearby station is used for tide timing. Predicted height does not represent exact water depth or exposed-flat conditions at this destination.
Tidal-current predictions are not available for this destination.
Tidal-current timing can differ from high and low tide timing.
Kure Beach Fishing Pier fishery
A southern New Hanover Atlantic ocean fishing pier at Kure Beach Fishing Pier.
Static seasonal guidance · Last reviewed Aug 23, 2026
Not a live bite forecast.
Red drum, spotted seatrout, Spanish mackerel, and bluefish are representative Cape Fear-area ocean-pier targets. Seasonal timing varies by species.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency and editorial sources. About fish illustrations
Red drum
PrimarySciaenops ocellatus
Also called Redfish
Typical seasonal opportunity: SPRING AND FALL
May also be present outside this peak window.
North Carolina surf and pier fishing.
Spotted seatrout
PrimaryCynoscion nebulosus
No seasonal pulse known
Surf, creek-mouth, and nearshore fishing.
Spanish mackerel
SecondaryScomberomorus maculatus
Typical seasonal opportunity: SPRING — FALL
Warm-season pier and surf fishing.
Bluefish
SecondaryPomatomus saltatrix
No seasonal pulse known
Coastal migratory fishing.
Seasonal presence is general guidance and does not indicate current fish activity.
Public fishing pier at Kure Beach. Confirm pier hours, fees, and town beach rules. Carolina Beach Pier is an overlapping nearby ocean-pier trip.
Ocean swell and pier spray. Wilmington 8658120 and Cape Fear river gauges are not this pier's ocean source.
Size limits, seasons, and possession rules change. Verify the current official regulations before fishing.
Editorial and agency sources supporting this fishery profile. Live and predicted conditions use the separate Data Sources section.
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
Shore · North Carolina
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
Tide predictions (nearby proxy)
Tide prediction proxy
Coastal and marine hazard alerts
Planning limitation
Coastal conditions can vary over short distances. Predictions and remote observations are planning information, not guarantees of access or safety.