Alright y'all, Artificial Lure here with your fishing report for Wednesday, March 19, 2025. It's shaping up to be a decent day out on the water along the North Carolina coast.

Sunrise was at 7:06 AM, and we're looking at a high tide around 11:12 AM, followed by a low tide at 5:05 PM. Sunset's coming in at 7:13 PM. Weather-wise, we're seeing partly cloudy skies with temps in the mid-60s and a light breeze out of the southeast.

Fish activity has been picking up lately as the water warms up. We've been seeing good numbers of speckled trout and red drum in the inshore waters, especially around the inlets and marshes. Offshore, the king mackerel bite has been heating up, and there have been reports of some early season mahi-mahi showing up.

For you inshore anglers, I'd recommend tossing some soft plastics like the Gulp! 3-inch shrimp in new penny color or a 4-inch paddletail in white. These have been absolutely killer for trout and reds lately. If you're heading out to the nearshore reefs, try jigging with some bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp! Jerk Shads.

Offshore, trolling with ballyhoo or cigar minnows has been producing some nice kings. For the mahi, try using some brightly colored skirted ballyhoo or cedar plugs.

As for hot spots, I'd say check out New River Inlet if you're looking for some inshore action. The oyster beds and creek mouths have been holding some nice fish. For you offshore folks, the area around the Big Rock has been producing some quality catches.

Remember to keep an eye on those tides and adjust your fishing spots accordingly. And don't forget to swing by your local bait and tackle shop for the latest intel - those folks always have their finger on the pulse of what's biting.

Tight lines, everyone! This is Artificial Lure, signing off until next time.