Ocean Isle Beach to Southport

[jason78]

I will be staying at Ocean Isle Beach in a couple weeks. Planning to take my Whaler down there. Any advice or neat things to see from a boat in that area? Would like to take ICW up to Southport one day. Wondering what kind of time that trip would be. I am a saltwater rookie so looking for any good advice I can get. Aside from the "normal" inland gear, I am taking a day distress flag, strobe light and some flares along with a handheld VHF (I have a regular VHF on the boat). Anything else I should have? Thanks

 

[CliffA]

Jason,
I have made the run from Holden Beach to Southport a few times.....using a cruise speed around 20 mph and with the 'no wake zones' it took around 1 hour each way.....the time from Ocean Isle Beach should be about the same.....

cliff

 

[JimT]

Jason,

There a couple of cool bars on the waterfront in Southport. Fishy Fishy Café has good food. Slainte's Irish Bar is a few blocks off the water.

If you make the trip to Southport you should check out Bald Head Island too

 

[rbryn]

Dockage can be a bit hard to find in southport on a weekend. Dock at southport marina for the day and it's a short walk to town... Lots of shops and restaurants all within walking distance. I would also recommend the short hop over to bald head... At bald head plan on spending the afternoon and renting a goal cart to tour the island. We never try to do southport and bald head in the same day, usually it's one or the other.

 

[mquiet]

Bald head is great for a day or two of visiting. You definitely need to rent a golf cart to get around. Southport for dining and ice cream


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[jason78]

Thanks for all the input! We are looking forward to the trip.