Get to Know the Locals: Daryl Law, Jennette’s Pier

All across the Outer Banks are people doing their best to make a living while still finding time to enjoy this wonderful place they call home. In this edition of Get to Know the Locals, you’ll meet one of them, Daryl Law, assistant director/communications manager at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head.

Law is a longtime local well known for telling the stories of the Outer Banks through both writing and photography. He has worked for local newspapers covering stories of every sort and has tirelessly covered local youth sports for decades. In his job at Jennette’s Pier, which he has held for 12 years, he handles social media and the 363-day-a year fishing report, communicates to the public about everything happening at the pier and assists with whatever needs doing, from big projects to education, rentals, maintenance, housekeeping and events. “We all really try to work as a team here,” Law says.

Jennette’s Pier, operated by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources as part of its Aquariums Division, is a well-loved attraction on the Outer Banks. It is not only a popular fishing pier, but also an educational center. They participate in citizen science programs, assist other organizations with ocean and marine research and welcome school groups from across the state for field trips in marine education. This March, Law says that they have school groups nearly every day.

The pier is also an event center hosting 60 wedding receptions and other events all year round. This year, the pier plans to replace its event center carpet for the first time since it opened. Law says they’re also looking into replacing the 70 benches on the pier in the next year or so as well as the pier planks at “some point down the road.” 

Photo: Jennette's Pier at sunrise

Read on to get to know more about Law, a diehard Outer Banker and just one of the many people who works behind the scenes at Jennette’s Pier.

How long have you lived on the Outer Banks and how did you end up here? 

I moved to Nags Head just several weeks after graduating from high school in 1981. We had vacationed here all my life, and I moved here to learn house construction and surfing. After finishing college, I moved back for a newspaper job in 1987. 

What did you do before you worked at the pier? 

I owned and operated Daryl Law Photography and specialized in weddings, family beach portraits and sports. Prior to that, I was in public relations at the N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island. I also enjoyed a run as a sports and news writer and photographer at the Outer Banks Sentinel community newspaper in the late 1990s. 

What motivates you to work hard in your line of work? 

I love to produce and publish things, so after I take a photograph of someone with their fish, I write a caption with their name and town and post it on social media. Often, these are also sent to area media outlets and the angler’s hometown newspaper.

What’s your favorite thing about your job? 

Watching a kid light up like a Christmas tree after catching a nice fish.

What’s the most challenging part of your job? 

Video conference calls. They’ve become the norm but aren’t nearly as good as meeting face to face. 

What do you do creatively? Do you have a favorite art medium? 

I take a lot of photos. Images I would consider good enough to have enlarged and framed or interesting sports shots. So, digital photography and I almost always have at least one camera with me. I also dabble on short video clips for social media. I try to cook new dishes from time to time too. 

Photo: Law snapping photos on a sailing trip to Shackelford Banks c. 1983.

What’s your favorite OBX town or village?

I’ll have to go with my adopted hometown of Kill Devil Hills.  

What is your favorite thing about living on the Outer Banks?

It’s a unique place with interesting people and beautiful surroundings. I love being around Kitty Hawk Bay around sunset – pure awe-inspiring beauty. Ocean swimming in clear warm water days is the best.

What is your favorite season on the Outer Banks?

Fall. Sunny days, warm water and less people. Bigger fish, better waves.

What do you do for fun?

I enjoy days on the beach with my family and friends swimming in the sea. Also surf fishing, beach driving and boating. I like to go yard sales early on Saturday mornings. My last score? The giant sombrero that used to hang in Mex-Econo Restaurant and Bar; I bought it from Chris Campbell's estate for ‘uno dolar.’

What do you do in the off-season? 

Fish for red drum, attend high school sports events and keep up with certain college teams. We travel a little, and fishing down south on Hatteras Island is typically worth the drive. 

Do you have any pet projects or is there a local nonprofit that you’re passionate about? 

I like to volunteer in the community, and the state government, who I work for, is supportive of these efforts. I’ve helped John Van Lunen with photography, publicity and coaching for the Outer Banks Lacrosse Club or simply OBX LAX since he launched it several decades ago. This has evolved to men’s and women’s varsity lacrosse at First Flight High School with a feeder program at the middle school. We were state runner-up for 2A high schools last spring.

Law, right, volunteering at the Kelly's Outer Banks St. Patrick's Day Parade, pictured here with Mike Kelly.

What’s your favorite beach access? 

Hayman Street 

Describe your perfect day off. 

A light breakfast with black, hot coffee, cooler packed and off to the beach for swimming and socializing. Back home, an outdoor shower, grilled chicken thighs or steamed-spiced shrimp with fresh vegetables and an early night. The nightclubs of my youth are gone now.

Do you see more sunrises or sunsets? 

These days, probably sunsets, but I’ve certainly had plenty of jobs on the Outer Banks that required travel before sun-up. Sunrises at Jennette’s Pier are delightful! I also enjoy both sunrises and sunsets occasionally at Avalon Pier, which is near my house. 

What’s one thing you wish more Outer Banks visitors knew? 

While most visitors are delightful, I wish some of them knew their manners. 

Where do you go on vacation?

We went to St. Augustine, Florida, last spring and hope to visit the Virginia mountains again soon. I love the Florida Keys, but Ocracoke is a much closer jewel.

For a celebratory dinner, would you rather order take-out, go out to eat or cook something at home? 

First choice, go to Tortuga’s for tuna, Island Fries and draft beer. Two Roads is our neighborhood go-to spot. Otherwise, we’re known to grill steaks on my charcoal Weber with large baked potatoes and fresh vegetables or garden salad on the side.

What is your favorite local seafood? 

Steamed and spiced blue crabs or fresh shrimp, both at home. Fried soft crabs in May. I typically order tuna or dolphin at eateries in season, but we don’t go at all when it’s crowded. Sam and Omie’s, Cahoon’s Market and Billy’s Seafood each have excellent tuna salad.

Do you have any side hustles?

Yes, like most, I’ve had two jobs my entire 40 some years here. Currently, I write several sports feature stories each month for The Coastland Times newspaper. I also buy and sell items on Marketplace. 

What’s one item on your bucket list? 

To write a book about the murder of Denise Johnson on July 13, 1997.

Law is known for capturing great photos of people and fish at Jennette's Pier.

If you want to know meet Daryl or any of the pier staff, stop by Jennette's Pier at 7223 S. Virginia Dare Trail, milepost 16.5, in Nags Head. Jennette's Pier is open year-round, currently daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Spring hours, which take effect April 1, are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. From April 29 to October 1, hours stretch to 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, click here. Law says Jennette’s Pier is always looking for new staff members.