Outer Banks

Counting down to June 3 got a house booked in ocracoke for a week

 

4 days last week at ocracoke campground.

 

Is October a good bug-free time on Outer Banks?

 

The mosquitos are still thick into early/mid November most years. Late October is when you’ll start seeing less, but they’re still bad.

 

Thank you

 

Not sure how I’ve missed this thread. I spend most of my time around the SOBX (been in Beaufort/Harkers Island all my life) but I try to get up north every other summer or so. Y’all have some great catches from the beach! I’m a mediocre boat fisherman at best but trying to get out more on the weekends.

 

I personally didn't have any issues with mosquitoes when we went in early October of 2021.

 

I was there in September and didn’t encounter any mosquitos at all.

 

Should I also ask about bugs in general? Small gnats have been a bad issue in September.

 

In my experience mosquitos and gnats are very hit in miss in September. If it’s not windy they usually come out more and more as the sun goes down, especially if you are close to any fresh water. But if the wind is more than 10 knots in a particular camp spot you shouldn’t have any issues. Other than that I’ve never had issues with other bug types.

 

I didn't have any issues with bugs at all. Are you super sensitive to flying insects?

 

My OBX bug story is the time my GF and I took a half day boat trip from Ocracoke to Portsmouth Island. It was a lovely trip over, the boat drops you off at a small dock on the soundside of the Island and you take a self-guided walking tour of the village. As the boat is docking, the captain opens a hatch and begins giving out full mosquito suits to all the passengers. “Here, you might need these, might not, he says.” Well, we didn’t put ours on, I mean how bad can it be right? About 20 yds down the path we are covered in mosquitos. Big, black mean ones. I think iset a record getting into that suit, but it was too late, they were all inside the suit with me. Haven’t been back to PI since.

 

This is my experience in the OBX also, and I’ve been in all seasons.

I don’t live in NC but I’m in the OBX at least a few times a year.

 

I’ve had this experience on PI and the Southern Banks as well. They can get bad and they will find a way to bite you. Even through clothes unfortunately

 

Gotta watch those biting flies to.

 

I take back my earlier post, after reading yours I do remember getting a nasty bite or two from those while on Hatteras island.

 

I have literally dropped what I was doing and found the nearest tackleshop/outfitter for long pants. They were that damn bad.

 

That sounds right, those things are horrible. I guess I blocked that part of my trips out of my memory haha. My last few trips there it’s been super windy so that helped a lot.

 

No more than anyone else.

A few years ago in early September.
Hammocks Beach State Park, Bear Island.
The little FN gnats were SOOOOOO bad I had hundrreds of bites. They could get through the netting of the tent. Too hot to stay under the sleeping bag. We took the 1st ferry back after 2 nights of that. I was almost ill from so many bites.
It was like that all the way north. Cedar Island ferry, Ocracoke, Hatteras Ferry, Frisco, Kitty Hawk, etc. We drove and stayed in motels. Went north to Vermont.

So, a whole day plus to drive, we would like to lessen the odds of that happening again.

It was nice a few weeks ago.

 

Me and you both! I’ll be in Hatteras though. Probably will take a day trip to Ocracoke.