Kure Beach Pier

If Kure Beach has a heart, this is it. The Kure Beach Fishing Pier has been at the center of town for over a century, and it still does everything a great pier should. Anglers come here to try for the big catch, families gather to watch the sunrise over the Atlantic, and almost every visit to town starts or ends at the pier. It’s free to walk, easy to love, and holds more history than almost anything else on the island.

The Oldest Pier on the Atlantic Coast

The Kure Beach Pier is famous for being the oldest fishing pier on the Atlantic Coast. Its story began in 1923, when L.C. Kure built the original 120-foot pine pier as part of his dream to create an entertainment spot for visitors from nearby Wilmington. The land had been in the family since the early 1900s, when Hans A. Kure bought most of what is now Kure Beach.

The first pier didn’t even last a year, but the Kure family kept rebuilding. Over the decades, hurricanes came and went, and each time the pier was damaged, it was rebuilt. After Hurricane Bertha, the most recent rebuild returned to the original three-piling design and raised the deck to 26 feet above the ocean. The pier has always been family-owned and operated, and you can tell.

Today, the pier stretches 711 feet into the Atlantic, which is just over an eighth of a mile. Its waves and weather have even appeared in movies, including the 2022 Netflix film Along for the Ride.

Fishing the Pier

For many people, the pier is all about fishing. It sits 26 feet above the water and extends well past the breakers, giving better access to deeper water than most other piers nearby. This means you have a real chance at catching bigger fish. Depending on the season, anglers catch flounder, red drum, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, and more. Fall usually brings some of the best fishing of the year.

Here’s how it works:

No fishing license is needed. The pier has its own blanket license, so your daily fishing fee covers you.
There is a small daily fee to fish, with higher rates for king (multiple-rod) fishing and shark fishing. Fishing permits usually last until midnight.
Bait, tackle, and rod-and-reel combos are available seasonally at the on-site shop, so you can arrive empty-handed and still fish.

More Than Just Fishing

You don’t have to fish to enjoy the pier. Walking is free, and the views alone are worth the visit. You can see the ocean in every direction, with a view that stretches from Carolina Beach down to Fort Fisher. It’s one of the best places in town to watch the sunrise, and dolphins and sea turtles often swim in the waters below.

Back at the Pier House, you’ll find a well-stocked store, a concession stand with ice cream, an arcade for the kids, and a souvenir shop for something to take home. It’s a true one-stop family destination and a great place to escape the midday sun for a while.

Good to Know

Season: The pier and Pier House, including restrooms, are usually open 24 hours a day from around April 1st (Good Friday) through the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Free to stroll: Sightseers walk on for free; only those fishing pay the daily fee.
Family-friendly: No alcohol is allowed anywhere on the pier or premises.
Location: 100 Atlantic Avenue, right in the heart of downtown Kure Beach, with a half-dozen restaurants within a block for a meal between casts.
Parking: It’s usually easier to find parking here than at busier beaches nearby, but you should expect to pay for parking, especially during the busy spring and summer seasons. Arrive early in peak season for the closest spots.
For current hours, rates, or to ask what’s biting, you can call the Pier House directly. There’s also a live pier cam online so you can check the waves and weather before you go.

A Kure Beach Tradition

Some places you visit once. The Kure Beach Pier is the kind of place you return to year after year, generation after generation. Whether you’re chasing a trophy fish, watching the sunrise with a coffee, or just walking out over the water to feel the ocean breeze, the pier has given people that feeling for a hundred years. It’s not just an attraction. It’s Kure Beach.