Kure Beach Fishing Pier (Kure Beach: Day 3, Pt. 2)

The Kure Beach Fishing Pier is where we spent a few of our nights on Kure Beach.

The Kure Beach Fishing Pier is actually the oldest pier on the entire Atlantic Coast, not just in North Carolina. There's history behind this pier. It was originally built in 1923. It was originally built to draw in visitors from nearby Wilmington. That original pier was only 120 feet long. The pier collapsed and was destroyed within the first year!

It was so popular in that first year though, that it was rebuilt even stronger the next year, in 1924. This one doubled the original in length, stretching out to the Atlantic 240 feet. This pier was built more solid and lasted over thirty years. However, in 1954, Hurricane Hazel washed it away. It was rebuilt even stronger (and longer, as it was now 711 feet), in 1955 and a restaurant and tackle shop were added. The area around the pier became a hub of activity in the next 40 years as more restaurants were added and the tackle shop expanded to include a large patio overlooking the Atlantic and gift shops and locker rooms.

In 1996, Hurricane Bertha took down the pier again. When it was rebuilt it was raised 26 feet above sea level and reinforced more than ever before. In 1998, another hurricane swept through Kure but the pier survived. It currently sits at 720 feet long and has survived 18 years strong (lasting through more hurricanes than any of the previous piers). Here's hoping the current pier is the strongest one yet!

The kids cooperated and took some pictures together, then wanted to go run in the waves. We hadn't eaten yet, so we didn't want them to play too much, but that didn't stop Hayes. Within 5 minutes the kid was soaked!

While the kids were playing in the sand a lady from above on the pier began yelling down at us. We couldn't hear her because the waves were loud. "Sharks!"

Everyone on the pier above were looking out into the water, about 100 yards directly in front of us in the ocean. We were just playing in the sand at the shoreline, not too deep and didn't feel in danger (well, Kelli did). To make Kelli feel safer, we decided to head up to the pier and check out the view from above.

We saw the sharks clearly, two of them, circling about 100 yards from the shore. Both were 5-6 feet long. While the locals see plenty of sharks and dolphins, a few confirmed that these two were big and legit. Kelli was freaked out, even 20-some feet above them, but Charly and Hayes couldn't stop looking. At one point a wave swept in and the sharks rode it. I said "the sharks like waves." Hayes looked at me then yelled down to the sharks, "Hi!" waving vigorously. 

These two were hanging out at the end of the pier, waiting for some samples. They were freaking all the non-locals out. They looked like they were going to eat us!

Speaking of sharks... one fisherman caught a baby one right in front of us! Neither Charly or Hayes wanted to touch it but while we were amazed by the thing, the fisherman told us he catches them all the time. He tossed it back in.

Freddie's was the restaurant we ate at the night before. Freddie's specialized in Italian food and while it was good, we wanted to eat our fair share of seafood the rest of our time in Kure. So we headed to Jack Mackerels, the best seafood place in town.

Tomorrow, we were going to travel to Southport by ferry, as soon as my class ended. So we called it an early night after dinner.