Crystal Pier, officially the Oceanic Pier, is one of Wrightsville Beach's most popular breaks. It's a sand-bottomed beachbreak that peels on both sides of the pier, though most of the action concentrates on the south side. It won't match the power or hollowness of the harder-breaking spots nearby, but it makes up for that by being the most consistent wave in the area.
When It Works
The pier draws swell from east-northeast to south-southeast, picking up everything from northerly windswell to southeast hurricane swell. It works from 0.9 m / 3 ft to 1.8 m / 6 ft and tends to shut down once the surf pushes a couple of feet overhead. Autumn, roughly September through December, is the prime season. It's a decent wave, and while it isn't Wrightsville's best beachbreak, it's probably its most reliable.
Wind and Tide
Look for offshore wind from the west-northwest, with a workable window running from the west through the northwest. Mid tide is best, and a rising, incoming tide is the better call thanks to the way the wave reforms. It breaks across all tides, but timing an incoming push gives you the cleanest sessions.
Local Tips
This is a wave for everyone, from beginners through to experts, and it takes anything from a shortboard or fish to a funboard or longboard. Expect a busy lineup when it works, with all kinds of surfers on all kinds of equipment packed into the pier bowl, so collisions do happen. The atmosphere stays friendly, but be ready to paddle-jockey more than you duck-dive, and keep an eye out for fishing lines and the odd shark around the pier.
Access
Parking is scarce and gets expensive in summer, with roadside meters and pay lots your main options.
