The Ocean Isle Pier extends several hundred feet into the Atlantic from the centre of the beach strand, and serves as the informal gathering point of the island. Anglers fish off the sides for spots, flounder, king mackerel, and whiting depending on the season; the covered end of the pier is a good spot to watch dolphins working the surf or pelicans diving into the waves.
There is a small fee to fish from the pier, and bait and tackle are available on site. Non-anglers can walk out to the end for the view without paying the fishing fee. The pier is particularly worth visiting in the early morning or at sunset.