Good morning, anglers! Here’s your fishing report for April 4, 2025, covering the waters off the Atlantic Ocean in North Carolina. Conditions are shaping up nicely for a rewarding day on the water.

Sunrise this morning was at 6:55 AM, with sunset expected at 7:35 PM. The tide schedule near Bald Head Island indicates a high tide at 1:13 AM (5.0 feet), low tide at 7:29 AM (0.7 feet), another high tide at 1:42 PM (4.4 feet), and low tide again at 7:30 PM (0.7 feet). These conditions favor both early and late outings for maximizing fish activity.

The weather today is mostly clear, with mild temperatures and light winds, providing ideal conditions for both inshore and nearshore fishing. Water temperatures are steadily rising, hovering around the mid-60s, inviting more species to become active.

Inshore fishing has been productive recently, with red drum and black drum being the stars of the show. Anglers have had success targeting red drum around docks, creek mouths, and oyster beds using Carolina rigs baited with dead shrimp or cut mullet. For artificial bait enthusiasts, Z-Man PaddlerZ and scented soft plastics like Gulp Shrimp have also been performing well. Black drum are favoring dead shrimp fished around hard structure, such as rock jetties and bridges.

Nearshore, black sea bass action has been steady on structures in the 15-25 mile range. These fish are biting well on bottom rigs with squid or cut bait. Schools of Atlantic bonito and bluefish are expected to arrive soon; keep an eye on nearshore reefs and shallow structures, as these fast movers can make for an exciting catch.

Offshore anglers targeting the Gulf Stream are finding blackfin tuna and wahoo, though cooler waters have slowed the action slightly. Vermilion snapper, triggerfish, and jumbo black sea bass are reliable targets beyond the 80-100’ mark for those focusing on bottom fishing.

For surf anglers, the winds have been calm, and catches of whiting, pufferfish, and sea mullet have been reported. Frozen shrimp and sand fleas are top choices for these species, while cut blue crab is an excellent bait for larger fish like red drum and black drum in the surf zone.

For lures, paddletail soft plastics, gold spoons, and jerkbaits continue to be highly effective inshore. Offshore, jigging with metal spoons or using trolling lures for pelagic species like tuna and wahoo can yield impressive results.

Hotspots to consider today include:
1. **Cape Lookout**: Target red drum and black drum along shallow bays and marshes.
2. **Wrightsville Beach Jetties**: This spot provides opportunities for bonito, bluefish, and black drum as the warmer waters attract more species.

Remember to check local size and bag limits before heading out, and good luck out there! Tight lines!