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Wilmington Fishing Report: Hot Spots, Tides, and Tactics for a Productive Day on the Water
Good morning coastal anglers, Artificial Lure here checking in with your Wilmington, North Carolina fishing report for Friday, August 22, 2025.
Today’s sunrise rolled in at 6:38 AM and we’ll watch the sun set at 7:49 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to chase those fish. The moonrise is 5:49 AM with moonset at 7:43 PM, so look for some decent activity right around dawn and dusk, especially with that lunar influence working in our favor. Tidal swings are moderate but noticeable—low tide hit early at 1:36 AM, with high tide peaking at 7:35 AM, another low at 1:27 PM, and the evening high rolling in at 8:04 PM. Expect close to 4.2 feet for the morning high and just a hair over 5.4 feet by sunset. According to Tide-Forecast.com, these alternating periods will move bait and stir things up, making the outgoing and incoming transitions prime times to fish.
Weather’s holding steady in the mid-80s today with light southern breezes and only a slight risk of a pop-up storm in the afternoon, so you’ll want to bring sunscreen and keep an eye on the horizon. No major heat spikes and water temps are summer-warm, which keeps the fish comfortable and feeding, especially early and late.
Recent catches around Wilmington Beach, Carolina Beach, and out to the Cape Fear River have been solid. Inshore, expect red drum biting well near grass lines and creek mouths and flounder showing up around marsh points and docks. Speckled trout catches have been steady at first light, mainly on moving tides. Jetty and pier anglers have been snagging Spanish mackerel, pompano, and even some citation-sized bluefish—Spanish were thick around the Masonboro jetties this week, according to local guides interviewed on Captain Experiences, with multiple boats reporting busy limits on light tackle.
Offshore, King mackerel made a strong showing on the nearshore reefs, and folks dragging spoons or slow-trolling live pogies hooked up with several fish in the low- to mid-teens. If you push farther out, summer snapper, triggerfish, and the occasional grouper have been coming over the rails on drop rigs baited with squid or cut menhaden. A few boats running burns down toward Frying Pan reported scattered mahi-mahi, though the best action was still within 30 miles.
For tackle, inshore anglers are having the most luck with 3–4” paddle tails in new penny and electric chicken colors, Z-Man and Gulp! Swimming Mullets on 1/8oz jigheads, and live mud minnows on Carolina rigs for flounder. Topwater plugs like the Rapala Skitter Walk at dawn are drawing ferocious blowups from trout and redfish. Offshore, Clarkspoons and Drone spoons shine for Spanish and kings, while natural baits—squid strips, cigar minnows, and frozen sardines—excel dropping on reefs. Don’t forget wire leaders for the toothy critters.
Hot spots this week: Masonboro Inlet has been putting out consistent Spanish and blues on the outgoing tide—early morning bite is best. Try the Cape Fear River tributaries for flounder and red drum, especially where fresh water swirls into the salt. If you’re heading out, the AR 425 reef just offshore offers action on both live and artificial baits for kings, triggers, and summer bottom fish.
Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure’s Wilmington fishing report. If you enjoyed the update, subscribe for daily action, tips, and local knowledge to keep you on the bite. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
Today’s sunrise rolled in at 6:38 AM and we’ll watch the sun set at 7:49 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to chase those fish. The moonrise is 5:49 AM with moonset at 7:43 PM, so look for some decent activity right around dawn and dusk, especially with that lunar influence working in our favor. Tidal swings are moderate but noticeable—low tide hit early at 1:36 AM, with high tide peaking at 7:35 AM, another low at 1:27 PM, and the evening high rolling in at 8:04 PM. Expect close to 4.2 feet for the morning high and just a hair over 5.4 feet by sunset. According to Tide-Forecast.com, these alternating periods will move bait and stir things up, making the outgoing and incoming transitions prime times to fish.
Weather’s holding steady in the mid-80s today with light southern breezes and only a slight risk of a pop-up storm in the afternoon, so you’ll want to bring sunscreen and keep an eye on the horizon. No major heat spikes and water temps are summer-warm, which keeps the fish comfortable and feeding, especially early and late.
Recent catches around Wilmington Beach, Carolina Beach, and out to the Cape Fear River have been solid. Inshore, expect red drum biting well near grass lines and creek mouths and flounder showing up around marsh points and docks. Speckled trout catches have been steady at first light, mainly on moving tides. Jetty and pier anglers have been snagging Spanish mackerel, pompano, and even some citation-sized bluefish—Spanish were thick around the Masonboro jetties this week, according to local guides interviewed on Captain Experiences, with multiple boats reporting busy limits on light tackle.
Offshore, King mackerel made a strong showing on the nearshore reefs, and folks dragging spoons or slow-trolling live pogies hooked up with several fish in the low- to mid-teens. If you push farther out, summer snapper, triggerfish, and the occasional grouper have been coming over the rails on drop rigs baited with squid or cut menhaden. A few boats running burns down toward Frying Pan reported scattered mahi-mahi, though the best action was still within 30 miles.
For tackle, inshore anglers are having the most luck with 3–4” paddle tails in new penny and electric chicken colors, Z-Man and Gulp! Swimming Mullets on 1/8oz jigheads, and live mud minnows on Carolina rigs for flounder. Topwater plugs like the Rapala Skitter Walk at dawn are drawing ferocious blowups from trout and redfish. Offshore, Clarkspoons and Drone spoons shine for Spanish and kings, while natural baits—squid strips, cigar minnows, and frozen sardines—excel dropping on reefs. Don’t forget wire leaders for the toothy critters.
Hot spots this week: Masonboro Inlet has been putting out consistent Spanish and blues on the outgoing tide—early morning bite is best. Try the Cape Fear River tributaries for flounder and red drum, especially where fresh water swirls into the salt. If you’re heading out, the AR 425 reef just offshore offers action on both live and artificial baits for kings, triggers, and summer bottom fish.
Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure’s Wilmington fishing report. If you enjoyed the update, subscribe for daily action, tips, and local knowledge to keep you on the bite. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
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By Quiet. PleaseGood morning coastal anglers, Artificial Lure here checking in with your Wilmington, North Carolina fishing report for Friday, August 22, 2025.
Today’s sunrise rolled in at 6:38 AM and we’ll watch the sun set at 7:49 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to chase those fish. The moonrise is 5:49 AM with moonset at 7:43 PM, so look for some decent activity right around dawn and dusk, especially with that lunar influence working in our favor. Tidal swings are moderate but noticeable—low tide hit early at 1:36 AM, with high tide peaking at 7:35 AM, another low at 1:27 PM, and the evening high rolling in at 8:04 PM. Expect close to 4.2 feet for the morning high and just a hair over 5.4 feet by sunset. According to Tide-Forecast.com, these alternating periods will move bait and stir things up, making the outgoing and incoming transitions prime times to fish.
Weather’s holding steady in the mid-80s today with light southern breezes and only a slight risk of a pop-up storm in the afternoon, so you’ll want to bring sunscreen and keep an eye on the horizon. No major heat spikes and water temps are summer-warm, which keeps the fish comfortable and feeding, especially early and late.
Recent catches around Wilmington Beach, Carolina Beach, and out to the Cape Fear River have been solid. Inshore, expect red drum biting well near grass lines and creek mouths and flounder showing up around marsh points and docks. Speckled trout catches have been steady at first light, mainly on moving tides. Jetty and pier anglers have been snagging Spanish mackerel, pompano, and even some citation-sized bluefish—Spanish were thick around the Masonboro jetties this week, according to local guides interviewed on Captain Experiences, with multiple boats reporting busy limits on light tackle.
Offshore, King mackerel made a strong showing on the nearshore reefs, and folks dragging spoons or slow-trolling live pogies hooked up with several fish in the low- to mid-teens. If you push farther out, summer snapper, triggerfish, and the occasional grouper have been coming over the rails on drop rigs baited with squid or cut menhaden. A few boats running burns down toward Frying Pan reported scattered mahi-mahi, though the best action was still within 30 miles.
For tackle, inshore anglers are having the most luck with 3–4” paddle tails in new penny and electric chicken colors, Z-Man and Gulp! Swimming Mullets on 1/8oz jigheads, and live mud minnows on Carolina rigs for flounder. Topwater plugs like the Rapala Skitter Walk at dawn are drawing ferocious blowups from trout and redfish. Offshore, Clarkspoons and Drone spoons shine for Spanish and kings, while natural baits—squid strips, cigar minnows, and frozen sardines—excel dropping on reefs. Don’t forget wire leaders for the toothy critters.
Hot spots this week: Masonboro Inlet has been putting out consistent Spanish and blues on the outgoing tide—early morning bite is best. Try the Cape Fear River tributaries for flounder and red drum, especially where fresh water swirls into the salt. If you’re heading out, the AR 425 reef just offshore offers action on both live and artificial baits for kings, triggers, and summer bottom fish.
Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure’s Wilmington fishing report. If you enjoyed the update, subscribe for daily action, tips, and local knowledge to keep you on the bite. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
Today’s sunrise rolled in at 6:38 AM and we’ll watch the sun set at 7:49 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to chase those fish. The moonrise is 5:49 AM with moonset at 7:43 PM, so look for some decent activity right around dawn and dusk, especially with that lunar influence working in our favor. Tidal swings are moderate but noticeable—low tide hit early at 1:36 AM, with high tide peaking at 7:35 AM, another low at 1:27 PM, and the evening high rolling in at 8:04 PM. Expect close to 4.2 feet for the morning high and just a hair over 5.4 feet by sunset. According to Tide-Forecast.com, these alternating periods will move bait and stir things up, making the outgoing and incoming transitions prime times to fish.
Weather’s holding steady in the mid-80s today with light southern breezes and only a slight risk of a pop-up storm in the afternoon, so you’ll want to bring sunscreen and keep an eye on the horizon. No major heat spikes and water temps are summer-warm, which keeps the fish comfortable and feeding, especially early and late.
Recent catches around Wilmington Beach, Carolina Beach, and out to the Cape Fear River have been solid. Inshore, expect red drum biting well near grass lines and creek mouths and flounder showing up around marsh points and docks. Speckled trout catches have been steady at first light, mainly on moving tides. Jetty and pier anglers have been snagging Spanish mackerel, pompano, and even some citation-sized bluefish—Spanish were thick around the Masonboro jetties this week, according to local guides interviewed on Captain Experiences, with multiple boats reporting busy limits on light tackle.
Offshore, King mackerel made a strong showing on the nearshore reefs, and folks dragging spoons or slow-trolling live pogies hooked up with several fish in the low- to mid-teens. If you push farther out, summer snapper, triggerfish, and the occasional grouper have been coming over the rails on drop rigs baited with squid or cut menhaden. A few boats running burns down toward Frying Pan reported scattered mahi-mahi, though the best action was still within 30 miles.
For tackle, inshore anglers are having the most luck with 3–4” paddle tails in new penny and electric chicken colors, Z-Man and Gulp! Swimming Mullets on 1/8oz jigheads, and live mud minnows on Carolina rigs for flounder. Topwater plugs like the Rapala Skitter Walk at dawn are drawing ferocious blowups from trout and redfish. Offshore, Clarkspoons and Drone spoons shine for Spanish and kings, while natural baits—squid strips, cigar minnows, and frozen sardines—excel dropping on reefs. Don’t forget wire leaders for the toothy critters.
Hot spots this week: Masonboro Inlet has been putting out consistent Spanish and blues on the outgoing tide—early morning bite is best. Try the Cape Fear River tributaries for flounder and red drum, especially where fresh water swirls into the salt. If you’re heading out, the AR 425 reef just offshore offers action on both live and artificial baits for kings, triggers, and summer bottom fish.
Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure’s Wilmington fishing report. If you enjoyed the update, subscribe for daily action, tips, and local knowledge to keep you on the bite. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn