Wilmington anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your local fishing report for Friday, April 18, 2025. We’re looking at a near-perfect spring day on the water. Sunrise hit at 6:40 AM and sunset comes around 7:42 PM, so there’s plenty of daylight for a long session. Air temps are starting in the upper 50s and heading into the mid-70s by afternoon. Skies are clear, with a light southeast breeze at 5-10 knots, so expect calm seas inshore and nearshore. Tides are prime today: high tide around 8:30 AM, low at 2:50 PM, and another high close to 9:00 PM—plan to fish around these turns for the most activity[3][5].
Inshore, fishing is hot. Red drum and black drum are leading the charge, especially in the backs of creeks, shallow bays, and around dock and oyster structure. The winter patterns are just starting to break up, but the fish are still hugging the structure. Best baits right now are dead shrimp and live mud minnows on a Carolina rig. Cut mullet will also pull a bite, but shrimp is king—especially for black drum. For red drum, focus on grass edges and creek mouths at higher tides, and around docks and rock jetties as the water drops[1][3][5][7].
Speckled trout are picking up too, mainly in the creeks and on shallow flats. Try soft plastics like Gulp shrimp or Z-Man baits rigged on light jigheads. Suspending plugs like MirrOlure 17MR or jerkbaits will tempt bigger trout, especially as the water warms. Best time for topwater is at first light with a Top Pup or Top Dog Jr., especially if you see surface action along marsh edges or points[3][5][1].
Sheepshead are just starting to move in around bridge pilings and docks—these guys love fiddler crabs and fresh shrimp on small, heavy hooks. Out in the surf and nearshore, Virginia mullet (whiting) and bluefish are showing well. Use fresh shrimp or bloodworms on simple bottom rigs for the mullet. Bluefish are hitting spoons and Got-Cha plugs off the piers and beaches[1][7].
Offshore, the black sea bass bite is steady in the 15-20 mile range, with both shorts and jumbos being caught. For those trolling, keep Clark spoons handy—Spanish mackerel are starting to make an appearance, and Atlantic bonito should be close behind as water temps climb into the 60s[3][1].
If you’re looking for hot spots, hit the Masonboro Inlet jetties or the creeks off the Cape Fear River for drum and trout. Carolina Beach Inlet and Wrightsville Beach are also great bets right now for a mix of drum, trout, and early spring bluefish. Figure Eight Island has been productive for those willing to work the soft plastics and live baits[3][5][1].
Today’s the kind of day that reminds us why we fish around Wilmington. The bite’s on, the weather’s beautiful, and there’s a solid mix of species stretching from the backwaters to the beach. Tight lines and see you on the water!