Raw OBX

Feel the untamed force and stunning beauty of the Outer Banks through some of the best surfing, fishing, and birding on the entire East Coast.

For some, the Outer Banks is the place they go to feel happy. For others, these islands are where joy itself seems to live. People say that loving your work means it never feels like work; we’d say caring for the place that makes your heart light keeps the spirit young. Living at the continent’s edge asks plenty from you, and it is not made for the faint-hearted. But for those lucky enough to find their passions on the OBX, putting in the effort to live fully is the natural decision. Let’s help you find your way here. Welcome to Raw OBX.

Surfing

The Outer Banks of North Carolina carries a wide reputation for having the best surf breaks on the entire East Coast. That still holds when the day is less than perfect. When the weather, water, and wind all decide to play together, Cape Hatteras can throw down for days with the raw, endless charge of a teenage garage band. Other times, the ocean seems to move with the sweep of a classic orchestra. Whatever beat you like to ride, chasing foamy green giants around here may leave you thinking seriously about fresh ink.

The Outer Banks Visitors Bureau gives special thanks to Brett Barley, Chloe Weinert, Will Dean, Quentin Turko, and Blayr Barton for taking part in the videos and helping tell the story of OBX surfing culture.

Fishing

Trading pavement and your grocery getter for miles of wild beach in pursuit of hard-fighting gamefish is a deeply primal way to scrape off the shine of city life, whether for one day or forever if the habit catches you. Catching brings its own payoff. Fishing, though, is more like a whole way of living. If a striped bass or red drum looks to you like two thick tenderloins with eyes, pack your rod and point yourself this way. And if you have never asked a total stranger to join Thanksgiving dinner after both of you ran into a blitz of bluefish, you have been missing something special. No worries; we know the people who can fix that. This is Fishing with a capital F, where everything below the surface has teeth, tastes good, and may well be smarter than you. This is Raw OBX.

The Outer Banks of North Carolina is a sport fisherman’s paradise and a four-season destination. Charter boats, fishing piers, license details, and many other angling options help make these waters some of the best in the world. The Outer Banks Visitors Bureau also thanks Stuart Baldwin, Donnie Davis, Nic McLean, Jess McLean, and Stefan Turko for appearing in the videos and helping share the OBX fishing culture.

Birding

The Outer Banks of North Carolina is known world-wide for having the best birding opportunities on the East Coast of North America. Birding the Banks means more than simply watching birds for fun or adding names to a life list. The OBX sits within the Atlantic Flyway, the major north-south migration route for birds traveling from the northern reaches of Canada, the Arctic, and Greenland toward South America and even Antarctica. The most active part of this flyway crosses only a small amount of land, so much of it is over or near water, including the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico; still, hundreds of species arrive here during each migration.

Kitesurfing

The Outer Banks of North Carolina is known world-wide for having the best kiteboarding opportunities on the East Coast of North America.

Keep OBX OBX

These open-air places create room for exchanging ideas and reconnecting with what matters most in your life and in the lives of those who follow. They can turn strangers into fast friends through a shared respect for a landscape that is both strong and delicate. Small but meaningful choices matter as everyone works together to safeguard these natural wonders and living cultures for future generations. Each person who comes to the Outer Banks leaves a mark on this narrow sandbar. Find out how to travel responsibly and show love to the OBX.

The Outer Banks Visitors Bureau recognizes National Park Service, NC Beach Buggy Association, Outer Banks Forever, Surfrider Foundation, US Fish & Wildlife, Cape Hatteras Anglers Club, Outer Banks Anglers Club, and Manteo Rotary Club (Rockfish Rodeo) for their support and guidance during video production and their ongoing stewardship of community resources.