Oak Island Webcam – North Carolina’s Ocean Crest Pier

The Oak Island Webcam looks out from the deck of Ocean Crest Fishing Pier on the Brunswick coast of North Carolina, where the beach faces south onto the Atlantic. This is a moving camera, so the picture changes often. One moment the weathered boards run straight out to the horizon past benches, picnic tables and, at times, a red golf cart parked near the head of the pier. Soon after, it zooms in on anglers working their rods at the far end, then swings across the dunes and down the long sand beach. Ships can sit on the horizon, and small waves break along the sand on either side of the deck. SurfChex, which runs the stream, sends it to its own site, where the page also carries tide, wind and radar panels.

About Oak Island

Oak Island is an island town in Brunswick County, with the Atlantic to the south and the Intracoastal Waterway to the north. The town itself is young: Long Beach and Yaupon Beach merged to form it in 1999, while Caswell Beach, which shares the island’s eastern end, chose to stay independent. The 2020 census counted 8,396 residents. Two bridges reach the mainland, the G. V. Barbee Bridge, opened in 1975 after a barge destroyed the old swing bridge in 1971, and Swain’s Cut Bridge, built in 2010. At the western end, Lockwood Folly Inlet separates the island from Holden Beach.

Ocean Crest Pier was finished in 1968 and is one of two ocean piers left on the island, after Long Beach Pier closed in 2006. Hurricane Floyd destroyed it in 1999, and the owners rebuilt and reopened it in 2000. The Andrews and Prince families have owned it since 2002. Its current length is given as 893 feet (272 meters), which is a long walk out from the benches in the foreground of the camera’s widest shot. Lamp posts mark the distance along the rail, and the crowd of anglers at the end shrinks to a few dots from this position.

The camera belongs to the SurfChex network, which a local meteorologist started in 1997 to keep watch on the coast, and Ocean Crest Fishing Pier sponsors this one. A white camera housing on a lamp post beside the deck turns up in some of the wider shots.

Weather and Climate in Oak Island

Winters are mild. January afternoons average about 13°C (55°F), with nights near 6°C (42°F). Spring warms quickly, and April highs reach about 21°C (69°F). July is the peak, with highs near 29°C (84°F) and lows around 25°C (77°F). October stays comfortable at around 23°C (74°F) by day and 17°C (63°F) at night, which is why the benches and the far end of the deck can still have company in the fall.

Water temperatures run from roughly 10°C to 15°C (50°F to 59°F) in winter to about 29°C (85°F) in summer. Rain totals about 145 centimeters (57 inches) a year, and 45 percent of it falls from June through September. Tropical systems are the serious risk on this coast, as Floyd showed by taking the whole pier. Haze can also soften the line between gray water and gray sky, which makes the ships on the horizon harder to pick out.

Things to Do Near Oak Island

The obvious first stop is the pier in the picture, at 1409 East Beach Drive, where anglers fish for king mackerel among other species. The island’s other pier, Oak Island Pier, stands at 705 Ocean Drive. For a walk away from the sand, the Environmental Overlook Trail is at 3003 East Oak Island Drive. The beach itself is the main draw, and SurfChex singles out its sunsets.

East along the island in Caswell Beach, Oak Island Lighthouse dates from 1958, and its beacon sits 52 meters (169 feet) above the water. Its gray, white and black bands were mixed into the concrete rather than painted on. Friends of Oak Island Lighthouse manages the tower, and its climb of 131 steps on ship’s ladder stairs has run by reservation, so check the current schedule first. Fort Caswell, the historic military site at 100 Caswell Beach Road, looks over the Cape Fear River, though it is worth confirming public access before driving out. Across that river on Bald Head Island stands Old Baldy, the oldest lighthouse in North Carolina.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

These three cover more of the Carolina coast and another well-known Atlantic beachfront.

• Sunset Beach Pier Webcam
• Bald Head Island Webcam
• Virginia Beach Boardwalk Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Oak Island located?

Oak Island is in Brunswick County on the southeastern coast of North Carolina, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Wilmington in a straight line. It sits between Lockwood Folly Inlet and the Town of Caswell Beach.

What can you see on the Oak Island Webcam?

The deck of Ocean Crest Pier with its benches and lamp posts, the anglers at the far end, the surf on either side, the dunes and the beach running along the shore. Ships can appear on the horizon.

Why does the Oak Island Webcam keep changing its view?

The camera moves between set positions and zoom levels, sometimes within 30 seconds. Stay on the stream for a minute or two and it often returns to the wide shot along the pier.

What is the weather like in Oak Island?

Summers are hot, with July highs near 29°C (84°F). Winters are mild, with January highs around 13°C (55°F). June through September brings 45 percent of the year’s rain.

How long is Ocean Crest Pier?

Recent listings give 893 feet (272 meters). The pier was finished in 1968, destroyed by Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and back open in 2000.

What fish can you catch at Ocean Crest Pier?

King mackerel are one target. Carolina Sportsman reported 500 of them landed at the pier in 1983 and 179 in 2007.

Is Oak Island North Carolina the same as Oak Island in Nova Scotia?

No. This is the beach town in Brunswick County, North Carolina. The Oak Island known for its treasure legend is in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Source: SurfChex