Don't go to Portsmouth Island. Its a cool island, but the ferry guy is a complete D nozzle and will leave your ass stranded on the island (left me stranded there with some annoying people...REALLY wanted off that island!). But seriously, don't take people who piss you off. That is very key.
Be prepared to drop coin on the ferry...like, have 200 bucks handy...in cash. Oh yeah, cash, have this. Their fawking credit card machines seem to stop working all the time out there.
The sand out there is very forgiving. I was out there in a loaded up Yukon Denali with street tires, fully loaded with 5 peoples. Truck did fan-friggen-tastic. Aired down to 20 psi and rolled. Truck did great despite being an "AWD" vehicle.
Beach camping can be fierce. Usually you'll just end up sleeping in the truck. If you were planning on camping, plan on being able to do everything inside the vehicle just because sandblown wind will pwn you. Also bad weather will roll up on you QUICK. And when I say bad weather, like, your tent will get knocked down, rolled up and thrown in the dune. Might as well forget all that nonsense and stay in the truck.
Speaking of weather, it'll turn on you in a heartbeat. Keep your eyes on the clouds and be prepared to make the call to get in the truck. Its easier to get your awning down and in the truck, just to put it back up rather than have it blow away.
BTW, when it pours down raining, the sand is still pretty solid. Basically, stay firmly away from the actual water and you won't have a problem.
Speaking of the sand, a coat of wax on your truck wouldn't hurt. Also I had a little bit of a problem with wet sand getting packed into my wheel wells. It isn't the end of the world but it made clean up later a pain.
Oh, and when you get home, just take the truck to auto bell. Bestest $15 you can spend. All sand = gone while I stood there eating a snickers.
While you are on the island, you won't have anything available. So a full tank of fuel, water food, etc is crucial. Pack extra food just in case your ferry ride gets cancelled. Basically, be self contained.
Bring one of those awnings you get for free at Harris Teeter, but tie it off to your truck. That was nice and it didn't blow away.
Hats and sunscreen, need these.
You'll be around super serious fishermen. Now when I say, super serious, they have designated fishing trucks. Pretty hardcore guys. They are nice but don't fawk with them and don't be a retard around them.
If you really, really want to, I know a few guys who built air cannons to cast their lines REALLY far out into the ocean. If you want to be hardcore, do this.
Bring a 3'x3' piece of plywood. If you land a stingray, throw the piece of plywood over him. Otherwise he'll get froggy with that barb on his butt. TRUST ME being able to pin that SOB onto the ground so you can get the hook out of his mouth will prevent you from sweating bullets. Stingrays DO NOT like that. You'll know if you have one on the hook, it'll feel like you are landing a fawking man hole cover.
8 oz and 10 oz weights, bring A LOT of them. Normally a 3~4 oz is what we use down surf fishing south of Myrtle Beach. They work fine there. At the outer banks, a 6 oz will wash up on the shore
. As you can imagine, this makes you say, "WTF mate what am I supposed to do with this!!??" But a 8 oz will keep your stuff out there.
Baby wipes/some wet disposable cloth that you can use to wipe yourself off, bring it.
Trash bags. Your boy will probably find some awesome conch shells, they are out there. Shells will stink up a truck in .0000004 seconds. So seal them puppies up.
Usually the park rangers are cool. Just don't speed/be somewhere you aren't supposed to.
Get a map and find out where you can go #2 BEFORE you get out there.
Bug spray, go find the stuff that is 100% deet/super death. Don't get pussy bug spray or you will die.
I had full recovery gear but never touched any of it. Good safety net, though.
At night, it gets boring. Be prepared for this. AT LEAST have a deck of cards.
Local knowledge, procure.
Hope this helps.
