This is Artificial Lure with your Wilmington, North Carolina fishing report for August 6th, 2025.

Locals woke up this morning to a warm and breezy August day, with partly cloudy skies and a persistent southeast wind near 10-15 mph—typical summer fare on the Cape Fear coast. Marine forecasts are hoisting a small craft advisory north of us, but here in Wilmington and the local beaches, the waters have been manageable, with heavier chop picking up in the afternoons, especially at the inlets. Water temps are holding in the mid-80s, putting our fish firmly in their summer patterns.

The sun rose at 6:28 AM and will set at 8:05 PM this evening. Tidewise, we saw a predawn low at 12:21 AM, a strong morning high at 5:58 AM, followed by a midday low at 11:54 AM and another high just before sunset at 6:19 PM, according to Tide-Forecast.com. That means this evening’s outgoing tide should get the inshore bite snapping right through sunset.

Action has been steady inshore this week. Flounder are active around the docks and marsh edges up the Cape Fear and in Snow’s Cut, with most keepers coming on white and chartreuse Gulp! shrimp bounced on 1/4 oz jigheads or live mud minnows under slip floats. Red drum are schooling up tight at high tide along the grass on the backside of Masonboro Island and the flats near Carolina Beach Inlet. Cut menhaden and live shrimp have both done the trick; a popping cork with a live shrimp has produced steady action, and artificial fans have done well throwing Z-Man paddle tails in ‘Opening Night’ color as the water gets clearer on outgoing tides.

The surf bite has been dominated by summer standards—plenty of slot-sized pompano and some big whiting, mixed in with a few puppy drum and blues in the evenings, especially when the tide is pushing in. Best baits right now are fresh sand fleas, small pieces of shrimp, and Fishbites, particularly when rigged on double drop bottom rigs. Early morning and just before sunset have been the tickets for the most action.

Nearshore reefs out to three miles continue to produce Spanish mackerel on Clarkspoons trolled behind #1 planers, especially near the shipping channel markers where birds are diving. King mackerel are hanging just offshore in 40-60 feet of water. Fast-trolling Pirate Plugs rigged with dead cigar minnows are out-fishing most rigs, as Carolina Sportsman reports, allowing for longer drifts and more strikes, especially earlier in the morning before the sun gets high.

Offshore, the king bite has picked up east of Frying Pan Tower, with dolphin (mahi) showing on the edge around weed lines. Ballyhoo and skirted lures are pulling fish for those willing to make the run when the wind allows. Reports from local captains show some sails and the occasional wahoo in the mix.

Hot spots today: Try the north end of Wrightsville Beach, especially the jetty at Masonboro Inlet on a falling tide for flounder and slot drum. For surf anglers, the stretch from Johnnie Mercer’s Pier down to Crystal Pier is holding pompano and whiting. Nearshore, the artificial reefs just off Carolina Beach (AR-372) are turning up Spanish and kings on the morning tide.

Bait shops are fully stocked; pick up live mud minnows, fresh shrimp, and if you’re going offshore, load up on pre-rigged Pirate Plugs and a tray or two of cigar minnows.

Thanks for tuning in to the fishing report—don’t forget to subscribe for daily updates, and tight lines out there! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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