Jennette's Pier
Jennette's Pier
4.5
About
Owned and operated by the North Carolina Aquariums, Jennette's Pier offers ocean fishing, educational programs with camps and fabulous facility rentals in Oceanview Hall. The 1,000-foot long pier is open year-round but hours vary with the seasons. All fishing customers are covered by a blanket fishing license while on the pier. Pick up ice, bait, tackle, drinks, T-shirts, hats, toys and more at the Pier Shop. Large public beach access complete with free parking, bath house and outdoor showers. Help us keep it "clean and green."
Duration: 1-2 hours
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43 within 3 miles
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See what travelers are saying
- Nita MTulsa, Oklahoma72 contributionsGreat views!Love that the parking is free and the pier only costs $2 a person to walk it. Nice gift shop inside and small exhibit along with ice cream and drinks. We were even able to watch several surfers from the pier along with lots of people fishing!Visited September 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten September 22, 2023
- goldenparadoxPasadena, Maryland587 contributionsGreat views-- nice walkWhile it's clear that fisherman like the pier, it's also a beautiful walk for non-fishermen. They charge a very small fee ($2 per adult, I think) for those "going to sight see". I didn't visit on the nicest day. but it was still an enjoyable work. If it were a nice day, I'd probably sit out there a lot longer, maybe reading a book. Be sure to get a view from below the pier.Visited September 2023Traveled with friendsWritten October 14, 2023
- FaithLadyMAC24 contributionsA Nice Place to Spend An AfternoonJennettes pier was a short distance from our condo. It only cost $2 to walk down the pier. It was interesting watching others fish. There is a smaller version of the NC Aquariums there. We enjoyed browsing the gift shop.Visited November 2023Traveled with familyWritten November 21, 2023
- Brian CIndianapolis, Indiana121 contributionsCool place to visit with family and kidsCool place to visit with family and kids. Very inexpensive to go onto the pier, you can view the fishermen and women as well as the ocean scenery. We were able to see some surfers during a surfing contest.Visited September 2023Traveled with familyWritten November 24, 2023
- R T20 contributionsThe best pier in obx.I love Jennette’s Pier! It offers a great public beach access with bathrooms. The pier itself is only 2 bucks for a walk-on pass. But you may still access the entrance part of the pier without paying the fee. There is a nice gift shop and some historical displays about the pier. Been there many times.Visited March 2024Traveled with familyWritten April 3, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,514 reviews
Excellent
1,009
Very good
354
Average
114
Poor
26
Terrible
11
MomOf4GreatOnes
United States38 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
This is a must-do every time we're in the OBX. This time, my daughters and I simply enjoyed a walk out onto the pier to watch the fishermen and look back at the shore. Only costs $2 per adult to walk out, and if you keep your receipt, you can return the same day as many times as you'd like. One of my daughters returned 2 different nights and really loved seeing the pier at dusk and after dark. Very educational, too, with signage about different sea species and seeing what people are actually catching in the moment. There are also some large aquarium tanks and a gift shop in the building - these are free. Buy your ticket at the register and enjoy a walk. For those a little nervous - The pier feels very safe, and there is also signage showing how it's been maintained and updated over its many years.
Written August 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MomOf4GreatOnes
United States38 contributions
Jun 2022
Fresh air, sun, and a walk out across the ocean. My husband and adult son went out early one morning and had a great time fishing. No hassle with NC fishing licenses and packing rods and tackle in our car for our 600-mile trip to OBX: They purchased 1 day fishing passes ($14 each) and rented equipment at Jennette's. They had a great time, caught a few fish, and came back with a "fish story." Regular fishermen on the pier were friendly and helpful with tips. If you don't like fishing (me!), you can pay $2 to walk out on the pier and watch the fishermen and the ocean at your leisure. The pier house itself is free admission and is one of 4 NC Aquarium sites, with several large aquariums. There is information signage throughout the building and along the pier, educational and interesting. This is a historical attraction that is adaptable for people of all ages and interest levels.
Written July 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bruce F
Hampton, VA136 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
My wife and I visited Jennette’s Pier with no intention of fishing. It was an absolutely gorgeous day; 83 degrees with low humidity. The people on the pier were catching mullet.
Everyone we met was incredibly friendly. Tonja and Kathleen in the gift shop chatted with us as if we were old friends. It is so wonderful to travel and people put you at ease and make you feel welcomed. The prices are clearly marked so you don’t feel like the prices change if you look like a tourist. A great day on a fishing pier can be had even if you don’t catch fish. We saw families with their young children enjoying quality family time. The children were enthralled. Parking is free and ample. The bathrooms are exceptionally clean. If you can’t relax on Jennette’s Pier, their is no hope for you.
Everyone we met was incredibly friendly. Tonja and Kathleen in the gift shop chatted with us as if we were old friends. It is so wonderful to travel and people put you at ease and make you feel welcomed. The prices are clearly marked so you don’t feel like the prices change if you look like a tourist. A great day on a fishing pier can be had even if you don’t catch fish. We saw families with their young children enjoying quality family time. The children were enthralled. Parking is free and ample. The bathrooms are exceptionally clean. If you can’t relax on Jennette’s Pier, their is no hope for you.
Written April 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ITRT
Virginia44,656 contributions
Nov 2020
I had read a lot of positive reviews about this pier so we decided to visit it during our recent visit to the Outer Banks. The pier seems to be an ideal fisherman’s’ spot. I did not know but learned the pier is run by the North Carolina Aquariums Association. As we did not want to fish nor pay the $2.00 per person charge for walking on the pier, I simply walked on the sand and took photos from here. Indeed, it is a well-liked spot given the number of people fishing and/or walking the pier. I can now relate to pictures I see posted on various Facebook sites.
Written November 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kikirn
Winston Salem, NC20 contributions
Jul 2020
The pier is family friendly. Fishing was awesome! and we visited all of the piers to compare. We visited 3 days during our week long stay. We loved the layout of the pier and their execution of social distancing was great... fish markings on the walkway 6 feet apart and a lot of catchy signage. Visitor wore masks as they walked the pier. Awesome visit and we will be visiting again!
Written July 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jenny M
10 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
Really neat experience! You can just walk the pier for a $2 fee or you can buy day passes with fishing packages and spend all day! Lots of learning, great for kids to learn about the ocean life at the pier. It's chilly in April, but worth it if you want less crowded
Written April 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tobias Bear
15 contributions
Jan 2020
This is from the perspective of someone who enjoys wildlife but doesn't fish. Great little stopping place in Nags Head. Plenty of free parking (in January, can't comment on the summer), clear bathrooms, basic information stuff, and $2 to walk on (more if you fish). I spotted tons of dolphins and sea birds. Didn't see any turtles or whales but maybe better luck next time. Spent an hour there just peering from my binoculars, taking pictures, and enjoying the ocean during the off season. Not a bad use of $2!
Written January 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SCochran182
Winterville, NC3 contributions
Jun 2020
We visited Jennette's Pier in June 2020. The pier offers fishing rods and reels for rent, as well as live or frozen bait. A small fee is charged to fish from the pier, but individuals do not have to purchase a deep sea fishing license--so the small fee was worth it to us! There is also a gift shop on the pier, and a small display of local fish and information, which our young boys loved. Overall, we had a lovely afternoon enjoying the beautiful ocean view and fishing from the pier!
Written June 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AshSpartanburg_SC
Spartanburg, SC9 contributions
Jun 2021
We paid the $2 per person fee for walking the length of the pier and spent about 45 minutes here. Lots of people fishing made for a fun watch. Saw several bait balls of small fish swimming and leaping from the water and a group of rays swim by. The pier is well-maintained and the staff were all friendly. The gift shop inside had a nice selection and there is a small aquarium exhibit too that we enjoyed. Would definitely return on subsequent visits to OBX.
Written June 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nicole W
Budd Lake, NJ60 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
Was recommended this spot as an excellent sight-seeing experience and definitely was not disappointed. To simply walk the pier, admission was only $2. There are other admission prices based on age and whether or not you’re there to fish, but those were all super low cost as well. The pier has a variety of statues of local wildlife, some taxidermies near the entrance, and multiple signs educating the public on wildlife safety and what to do if you accidentally snag a sea turtle. Unlike many other piers, the boards are close together, so it’s very wheelchair/cane/crutch friendly. It’s also “oops I dropped my cell phone” friendly, thank goodness! My son and I walked the entire length of the pier. We got to see boats and dolphins and enjoyed watching fishermen casting. After our walk, we went down to the beach itself and enjoyed several hours of sea, sand, and sunshine. This was a wonderful spot. Highly recommend!
Written April 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Do you need a special net or is the distance from the pier to the water short enough for a 4-6 foot long net to bring in fish.
Written April 25, 2017
No you have to reel up your catch to get it in a net
Written May 7, 2017
Can I bring my own cooler and beer ? Can't find anything about that
Written October 13, 2016
Sure. Just don't get caught drinking it.
Written October 30, 2016
Is there still a Fish, Filet & Fry event on the pier?
Written August 4, 2016
That we don't know as never did that, and we've had our little beach box since 87. Go to Fish Heads at Outer Banks Pier
Written August 5, 2016
SleepBake
New York City, New York
What time is sunset the last week of April? Will any stores at the Duck Town Boardwalk be open? Thank you!
Written April 22, 2016
Sunset should be around 7:55 pm. Stores are not likely to be open after 5:00 pm at that time of year. There was a small gift shop area there when I was visiting so you may find some things you would like in there. Have fun!
Written April 23, 2016
Is food or snacks available on the pier, like is there a place to buy an ice cream cone and enjoy it along the pier?
Written March 31, 2016
At the front of pier you can purchase drinks and snacks but most of time fishermen bring there snacks with them. There is a ice cream shop across the street from the pier. Hope this helps have a good time on the pier really nice place!!!!!
Written March 31, 2016
As far as I know, family fishing ends at the end of November. Then December might still only do stand up paddle boarding tours. I can't post the company's information, but you should look it up and see what they say personally.
Written October 18, 2015
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