There must be many.
Nearby,…
to the east of Beaufort is a public boat ramp on Taylor Creek which is a great place to launch and paddle out to Shackleford Banks and see the wild horses.
To the west in Swansboro is Hammocks Beach State Park with a canoe and kayak launch and marked paddle trails.
Sorry, I’ve never paddled from Emerald Isle, but both of the above are close by.
Here’s a link
http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/publicbeachaccessmaps.htm
I’ve driven over on the Hwy 58 bridge and launched from the beach there a couple times.
When are you going? I’ll be up there this weekend paddling with some friends. I think the plan is a Bear Island circumnavigation on Saturday, and a shuttled run through the sound a few miles, paddling out of Bogue Inlet, and landing at an Emerald Isle access on the west side of the island Sunday morning.