The Bonner Bridge Fishing Pier is finally open. Just a remnant of the original Bonner Bridge, the pier still stretches 1046’ into Oregon Inlet, potentially giving anglers some of the best fishing opportunities on the Outer Banks.
The Pier is a cooperative effort between Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and NCDOT. The pier is managed by the National Park Service.
Located on the south end of the Marc C. Basnight Bridge, the parking lot has spaces for 70 vehicles and there is some room along the shoulder of the road leading to the parking lot for additional parking.
The pier is in what is considered inland water so a NC Fishing license is required. Good news for nighttime anglers—the pier is open 24 hours.
There is no fee for this pier. However, there are also no facilities, so be sure to bring water, food and anything else needed for a few hours of pier fishing, There is also no shade at all, so when the sun is shining bright, sunblock is probably a good idea.
When it was completed in 1963, the Bonner Bridge had an anticipated life span of 35 years, but 1998 came and went and it took almost 21 more years for the replacement span, the Basnight Bridge, to open to traffic.
Most of the old Bonner Bridge has been removed—much of it being used to create an artificial reef. There is still some demolition work ongoing, but it is relatively minor.
Because the Bonner Bridge Fishing Pier is administered by the National Park Service there are some rules that it’s important to know.
The following are prohibited on the Bonner Pier and enforceable:
- Pets
- Drones
- Glass containers
- canpoies, grills, and generators
- pin-rig or spearfishing
- bicycles, skateboards, and rollerblades
- fishing with more than 2 rods per angler
So much to do and so little time to do it on the Outer Banks. Plan your vacation to begin the journey of discovery of the Outer Banks in a Brindley Beach Vacations home.