Camping Cape Lookout NC

Yes, the pop up camper is fine. You'll just have to pay 2 spots on the ferry as the camper takes up space for a vehicle.

I'll be out there a lot this spring with my father in law and some friends; its a pretty easy drive for me and the drum are fun to catch.

I went out there December 26 and had a blast. We duck hunted in the morning and drove to the south point of the island that afternoon. In less than an hour, we had our limit on drum and kept on fishing (catching some nice slot drum) all afternoon until our arms felt like they were going to fall off! Can't wait to go back!
 
I'm really wanting to do an ATV trip out here, but the family is wanting to roll out in the rig. I'm running 39.5 Boggers on her right now. Aired down I'm wandering if she'll dig a quick hole to China or float on across the sand? Anyone got an opinion?
 
boggers are likely a bad idea out there. Most of the sand is soft. Once you get going, you should be fine, but getting started if stopped on the soft sand would be a challenge. Its doable, but you have to be really easy on the throttle. If you don't spin your tires, you should be fine
 
Turn the front ones around backwards, it'll help quite a bit along with dropping the air pressure (obviously).
 
Just finished setting up camp

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Planning to catch the 12noon davis ferry Sunday. I'll be in a white 85 4runner. Another buddy is going Saturday afternoon look for a silver double cab dodge ram.
 
Ill look for you guys. We are on the way out on Sunday... You see the vehicles we have, we'll be making a few trips to get all of our crew back to the ferry.
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Curious if anyone here has experience paddling across to core banks. Is it difficult to find a place to land, or can it be tricky with swamp/mud/dunes blocking easy access?
 
It is very easy. If you want to be at the south near the point and lighthouse, launch at the Beaufort waterfront and paddle across towards the lighthouse. Nice beach to land. If you want to be at the north end, the paddle across is a little longer and landing spots are limited due to marsh. You'd be well off launching near the ferries in David and landing at the ferry dock on the island


Fishing is best at the south end and there can be lots of people there. But, it's an easy paddle. Done it in the past in a basic rec kayak with the wife and family.
 
It's been awhile since this thread has been replied to but has anyone been this year yet? We're trying to go the week before or a week after Memorial Day. Will it be packed or are the islands big enough to get AWAYfrom everyone and do some primitive camping with some friends and the dogs! Also were looking into the Davis ferry I believe it is. Do they all take you to one spot and you drive as far as you can or should I goto a certain ferry Service to goto the more secluded spots ? Thanks y'all
 
Mstenz23 said:
It's been awhile since this thread has been replied to but has anyone been this year yet? We're trying to go the week before or a week after Memorial Day. Will it be packed or are the islands big enough to get AWAYfrom everyone and do some primitive camping with some friends and the dogs! Also were looking into the Davis ferry I believe it is. Do they all take you to one spot and you drive as far as you can or should I goto a certain ferry Service to goto the more secluded spots ? Thanks y'all
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Contact | Davis, NC Ferry | Cape Lookout Cabins & Camps | South Core Banks Fishing & Camping

I'd use Mac. My FIL knows him pretty good and we go out there a lot, him more than I as I'm always working it seems..

Great crew, great owners, fantastic service.


The ferries go to the same dock and you go from there; it's about at the middle of the island. Make sure you reserve your spot in the ferry NOW or you won't get a spot. Reserve the return trip too and don't be late or you will get left until there is an open spot.
 
rockcity said:
Contact | Davis, NC Ferry | Cape Lookout Cabins & Camps | South Core Banks Fishing & Camping

I'd use Mac. My FIL knows him pretty good and we go out there a lot, him more than I as I'm always working it seems..

Great crew, great owners, fantastic service.


The ferries go to the same dock and you go from there; it's about at the middle of the island. Make sure you reserve your spot in the ferry NOW or you won't get a spot. Reserve the return trip too and don't be late or you will get left until there is an open spot.
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I'll give them a call in the morning. If there open then I will defenatly use them. I'm just going to go with whoever is available. Hopefully can get two trucks out there. And above/ tips on where to go on the island ? It would be great for some insight on where to set up base. Does mac do a military discount by chance (could just ask when I call).
 
rockcity said:
Contact | Davis, NC Ferry | Cape Lookout Cabins & Camps | South Core Banks Fishing & Camping

I'd use Mac. My FIL knows him pretty good and we go out there a lot, him more than I as I'm always working it seems..

Great crew, great owners, fantastic service.


The ferries go to the same dock and you go from there; it's about at the middle of the island. Make sure you reserve your spot in the ferry NOW or you won't get a spot. Reserve the return trip too and don't be late or you will get left until there is an open spot.
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Also, got the website or phone numbers for "macs". I don't see a macs on the list of ferry services
 
Mstenz23 said:
Also, got the website or phone numbers for "macs". I don't see a macs on the list of ferry services
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The phone number is on that page in the link.
 
Mstenz23 said:
I'll give them a call in the morning. If there open then I will defenatly use them. I'm just going to go with whoever is available. Hopefully can get two trucks out there. And above/ tips on where to go on the island ? It would be great for some insight on where to set up base. Does mac do a military discount by chance (could just ask when I call).
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I'm sure Mac would consider a military discount. Never really asked even though my FIL is a former Marine.

When you call, ask the office what the bite has been like and trust what they say. They will know what is going on at the island and will steer you in the right direction.

Heading south to the jetty is a long ass drive, about 45-60 minutes depending on how you drive and what ramps are open, etc. I've always been successful on the south point and the jetty for spanish, blues, trout, drum, shark, flounder.

There used to be a really good hole near ramp 32, just south of the cabins. There was an awesome hole north around 20 or so early last year. When we go south to the point, it's always a good time catching the sharks if nothin else is biting. Geoff Rouser is out there now and is big on shark fishing the south point.

We usually cruise the beach and just look for the holes if we haven't heard of anything happening. Mac usually keeps us up to speed when we go and sometimes joins us.

I'm thinking of heading out there the weekend before Memorial Day with my father.
 
Mstenz23 said:
I see that. Dident know if that was "macs" that he spoke of. That link sent me to "calo " ferry service, but I'll call them as well!
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Mac owns the CALO ferry service, not the Davis ferry.

252-729-9751. They open at 6am and usually are there at 5. Call early. Most if not all of the cabins are booked for the season, even through this fall already.

This Fight For the Cape movement has really gained traction and really gotten things busy recently. Great for business, bad for us regulars that are used to having the island to ourselves... :)
 
rockcity said:
Mac owns the CALO ferry service, not the Davis ferry.

252-729-9751. They open at 6am and usually are there at 5. Call early. Most if not all of the cabins are booked for the season, even through this fall already.

This Fight For the Cape movement has really gained traction and really gotten things busy recently. Great for business, bad for us regulars that are used to having the island to ourselves... :)
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Really appreciate the insight. If we head there the weekend before memorial maybe we will run into each other. Now I just gota do some research on salt water fishing as I'm new to that too. We won't need a cabin the only issue will be reserving a spot on a ferry. Again, thank you
 
I'm sure either ferry will do. I always use Mac (CALO) as I know him and fish with him as does my FIL. He and his crew are great and I'll always recommend using him. I've heard of horror stories of other ferry companies leaving people stranded there overnight and other crazy stuff.

I know that if I'm ever in a pinch or running late, a call and they would do what they can to wait for me or help me out however possible.
 
Mstenz23 said:
Really appreciate the insight. If we head there the weekend before memorial maybe we will run into each other. Now I just gota do some research on salt water fishing as I'm new to that too. We won't need a cabin the only issue will be reserving a spot on a ferry. Again, thank you
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There are a ton of ways to fish the surf.

My preferred method is to set up 2 bottom rigs, one shallow and in the hole and the other one further out just past the hole and/or on the sand bar. Both are rigged and baited for drum but will also catch blues, spanish, black drum, shark, and flounder.

While those two rods soak, I usually have my 9.5' medium lite rod with a stick bait, casting up and down the beach, sight casting and keeping a close eye on the water for anything moving.

CALO has some good suggestions for stick baits and they even have great rods there too; it's where I buy mine.
 
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