Permuda Island is a small narrow island situated in Stump Sound in the extreme southwestern portion of Onslow County.  It contains about 50 acres of upland and is approximately one and one-half miles in length.

Permuda Island is situated on the sound side of Topsail Island.  Surrounded by the estuarine waters of Stump Sound, the component is protected from high-energy ocean wave dynamics.  The island is composed primarily of Holocene and Pleistocene sands with minor amounts of silts and clays. Prehistoric Native Americans exploited marine resources, such as oysters, clams, scallops, crabs and whelks, from the waters of Stump Sound surrounding Permuda Island and left thick deposits of shell refuse.  Archaeological evidence indicates the earliest occupation occurred as early as 300 B C. The earliest identifiable owner may have been John Baptista Ashe. Permuda Island was probably part of a large and poorly defined patent granted to him in 1726.

Above the spring tide limit of the supratidal salt marsh, the shrub thicket community consists of sporadic clumps of stunted trees and shrubs such as live oak, red cedar, yaupon and silverling.  The central portion of the island contains former agriculture fields.  Within these old fields are communities of broomsedge, dog fennel, asters, goldenrods, and Mexican tea.  Fishes, shrimp, crabs, clams and oysters utilize the Stump Sound estuary as a nursery ground.  Shorebirds frequent local marshes and mudflats.  Willetts, American oystercatchers, egrets, herons, black skimmers, and sandpipers are common.  Upland portions of the island are home to sparrows, warblers and other songbirds. Mammals found within the site include opossums, raccoons, marsh rabbits, and cotton rats.  River otters are occasionally found in marsh and sound areas.

Getting to the site

Permuda Island may be reached either by boat or by a gated private road/causeway that runs northwest from N. C. 210.  Various public and private boat ramps are found along the sound side of Topsail Island as well as the mainland shoreline. 

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