Surfing Lessons and Paddleboard Instruction at Topsail Island

Situated at the southern end of Topsail Island, off the coast of southeastern North Carolina, the Town of Topsail Beach is the smallest of the three communities located on the 26-mile long island. The island is just off US Highway 17, about half-way between Wilmington and Jacksonville. If you are flying in, Topsail Beach is about an hour drive from the Wilmington International Airport (ILM).

The Town of Topsail Beach boasts a friendly, family-oriented style of beach living. High-rise development is not allowed, beautification is encouraged, and conservation of the island environment is a top priority. There are plenty of beach accesses up and down the beach, but save your quarters for the gumball machine because parking here is FREE!

If you need to do a little shopping to make your vacation complete, venture into Surf City, just a short drive north. Here you will find several shops, boutiques, and restaurants.

Topsail Island is well known for it fishing. The Jolly Roger ocean pier is located on the south end of Topsail Beach and is open from March through November. The Jolly Roger is more than just a pier though; it is an entire complex complete with a motel, convenience store, and bait shop. In the summer months, you’re likely to catch blues, spanish, spots, croakers, pompano, sheepshead, flounder and king, just to mention a few!

The wide, secluded beaches here are nesting grounds for the endangered loggerhead sea turtle. Also, Topsail Beach is home to the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. Jean Beasley, the hospital’s founder and director, was voted Animal Planet’s 2007 “Hero of the Year.” Every camper that comes through a Wrightsville Beach Overnight Program or Guppy Camp has the opportunity to visit the center and come face-to-face with one of these amazing sea turtles. The hospital takes in sick and injured turtles, rehabilitates them and then releases them back into the ocean. On average, 20 to 30 turtles are released each year thanks to the countless number of hours put in by the dedicated volunteers.

Topsail Beach is just one of the many pristine beaches of Southeastern North Carolina, which is ranked among the top 12 vacation spots in North America. The clear warm water averages in the low 80’s throughout the summer months, making it an ideal location in which to learn the sport of surfing or stand up paddle boarding though our world renown Carolina Surf School!

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