Artificial Lure here with your July 7th, 2025 fishing report for the North Carolina coast and surrounding Atlantic waters.

First, let’s talk tides: This evening, high tide is coming up at 9:53 PM EDT with a 2.46 ft swing at the N.C. State Fisheries, and for you early birds tomorrow, low tide hits at 4:16 AM. Sunrise is at 6:02 AM, and sunset at 8:22 PM, setting the stage for a long day on the water. Over at Surf City and Holden Beach, things look similar with morning highs around 5:30–6:00 AM and another high tide in the evening around 6–6:30 PM. This pattern is typical for our barrier islands in mid-July, and fish are keen to feed on these rising and falling tides.

Now, for the weather—after a wild weekend with Tropical Depression Chantal sweeping through, rivers and inlets inland are still swollen, but out on the coast, things are settling down as Chantal’s remnants push into Virginia. Expect southwest winds at 10 to 15 knots, occasionally gusting to 20, with seas running 3 to 5 feet—manageable but a bit choppy as the last effects of the storm move out. There’s still a chance for a scattered shower or thunderstorm, so keep an eye on the sky, especially in the afternoon. The National Weather Service out of Wilmington says conditions will improve as the Bermuda High sets up and stabilizes our local weather for the next several days.

Fish activity is picking up fast now that the barometer is rising and water clarity is improving. Offshore, the bottom bite’s been solid—anglers targeting blueline and golden tilefish just north of the Carolina border are reporting good catches, making the deep drop worth your time this week. Remember, new permitting and reporting requirements are in effect for those targeting tilefish, so check before you head out.

Closer in, the snapper-grouper action remains steady off the wrecks and reefs, with some nice keeper gag grouper, black sea bass, and the odd red snapper (note: red snapper season and limits may apply, check the latest regulations). Mahi-mahi (dolphinfish) are still around in decent numbers offshore, and there are scattered reports of king mackerel and cobia for those slow-trolling along the temperature breaks.

Inshore and near the piers, flounder, speckled trout, and red drum are biting well on the falling tide. The marshes and creeks are muddy from all the recent rain, but as that settles, expect the bite to get even better. Surf anglers are picking up pompano, sea mullet, and a handful of slot-size drum, especially in the sloughs around high tide.

Best baits and lures? Offshore, bring your squid and cut bait for the bottom dwellers, but don’t overlook jigging with large, glow-in-the-dark soft plastics for tilefish and grouper. King mackerel are hitting slow-trolled live menhaden and flashy spoons. Nearshore and inshore, Gulp shrimp, MirrOlure suspending twitchbaits, and cut mullet or menhaden are top choices for trout and drum. For flounder, a white bucktail tipped with a strip of squid or mullet can’t be beat.

Hot spots today: Give the AR-355 artificial reef off Wrightsville Beach a try for a mixed bag of grouper, sea bass, and the odd cobia. For inshore, the mouths of Topsail Sound and the creeks around Carolina Beach are clearing up—prime territory for flounder and slot drum.

With waters returning to normal after all that rain, fish are on the chew and the water temps are prime. Remember, safety first—you may still encounter debris, especially near inlets and after the storm. Always check your local weather and tide charts before heading out.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s fishing report. Be sure to subscribe for daily updates so you always know where the bite is hottest. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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