Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Wilmington Fishing Report May 7, 2025: Bonito, Mackerel, and Drum Biting Across Inshore and Nearshore Waters
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Wilmington Fishing Report May 7, 2025: Bonito, Mackerel, and Drum Biting Across Inshore and Nearshore Waters
Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with today’s fishing report for Wilmington, North Carolina, Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
Sunrise today came right around 6:14 am and sunset will be at 8:00 pm, giving us a solid window for both early and late action. We’ve got a steady southeast wind around 8 to 12 knots this morning, with air temps pushing into the low 80s this afternoon. Skies are partly cloudy and the barometer’s holding steady—ideal conditions to get out there.
On the tidal front, we’re working an early morning rising tide with high tide peaking around 9:30 am and low tide expected about 3:45 pm. This is prime time for inshore and nearshore species to be active, especially around inlets and creek mouths.
Inshore, red drum and black drum are biting well on Carolina-rigged shrimp around dock pilings and hard structure. There’s also a good shot at sheepshead, especially as more folks get their hands on some fiddler crabs. Expect the sheepshead bite to improve even more as the month rolls on and water temps stay up[3].
Nearshore, it’s all about the Atlantic bonito and Spanish mackerel right now. The bonito bite has been red hot off the artificial reefs and just outside the breakers. Casting spoons—especially the Big Nic Spanish Candy or Clarkspoons—has been the ticket for both bonito and Spanish. Trolling spoons or deep diver plugs will put fish in the boat, but don’t be afraid to cast metal jigs if you see schools blitzing bait. There’s a healthy mix of bluefish and even a few small king mackerel showing up near the same spots[1][3].
Offshore, anglers running out past 100 feet are seeing solid action with black sea bass and big sheepshead on the wrecks. Grouper season just opened up, so the ledges and rocky bottoms are going to be busy with folks targeting grouper and snapper. For those heading farther out, blackfin tuna and wahoo are in the mix, with sailfish soon to follow as the water warms up even more[2][3].
When it comes to bait, fresh shrimp and bloodworms remain excellent choices for bottom species like sea mullet and drum. Artificial lures like Got-Cha plugs and spoons are working well for bluefish off the piers and beaches, while metals and jigs are getting the job done for the Spanish and bonito[4].
For hot spots today, check out the Yaupon Reef and the nearshore ledges just out from Wrightsville Beach for pelagics. Inshore, the docks along the Cape Fear River and the Masonboro Inlet are producing steady numbers of drum and the odd sheepshead.
That’s your report from Artificial Lure—tight lines and I’ll see you on the water!
Sunrise today came right around 6:14 am and sunset will be at 8:00 pm, giving us a solid window for both early and late action. We’ve got a steady southeast wind around 8 to 12 knots this morning, with air temps pushing into the low 80s this afternoon. Skies are partly cloudy and the barometer’s holding steady—ideal conditions to get out there.
On the tidal front, we’re working an early morning rising tide with high tide peaking around 9:30 am and low tide expected about 3:45 pm. This is prime time for inshore and nearshore species to be active, especially around inlets and creek mouths.
Inshore, red drum and black drum are biting well on Carolina-rigged shrimp around dock pilings and hard structure. There’s also a good shot at sheepshead, especially as more folks get their hands on some fiddler crabs. Expect the sheepshead bite to improve even more as the month rolls on and water temps stay up[3].
Nearshore, it’s all about the Atlantic bonito and Spanish mackerel right now. The bonito bite has been red hot off the artificial reefs and just outside the breakers. Casting spoons—especially the Big Nic Spanish Candy or Clarkspoons—has been the ticket for both bonito and Spanish. Trolling spoons or deep diver plugs will put fish in the boat, but don’t be afraid to cast metal jigs if you see schools blitzing bait. There’s a healthy mix of bluefish and even a few small king mackerel showing up near the same spots[1][3].
Offshore, anglers running out past 100 feet are seeing solid action with black sea bass and big sheepshead on the wrecks. Grouper season just opened up, so the ledges and rocky bottoms are going to be busy with folks targeting grouper and snapper. For those heading farther out, blackfin tuna and wahoo are in the mix, with sailfish soon to follow as the water warms up even more[2][3].
When it comes to bait, fresh shrimp and bloodworms remain excellent choices for bottom species like sea mullet and drum. Artificial lures like Got-Cha plugs and spoons are working well for bluefish off the piers and beaches, while metals and jigs are getting the job done for the Spanish and bonito[4].
For hot spots today, check out the Yaupon Reef and the nearshore ledges just out from Wrightsville Beach for pelagics. Inshore, the docks along the Cape Fear River and the Masonboro Inlet are producing steady numbers of drum and the odd sheepshead.
That’s your report from Artificial Lure—tight lines and I’ll see you on the water!
View all episodes
By Quiet. PleaseGood morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with today’s fishing report for Wilmington, North Carolina, Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
Sunrise today came right around 6:14 am and sunset will be at 8:00 pm, giving us a solid window for both early and late action. We’ve got a steady southeast wind around 8 to 12 knots this morning, with air temps pushing into the low 80s this afternoon. Skies are partly cloudy and the barometer’s holding steady—ideal conditions to get out there.
On the tidal front, we’re working an early morning rising tide with high tide peaking around 9:30 am and low tide expected about 3:45 pm. This is prime time for inshore and nearshore species to be active, especially around inlets and creek mouths.
Inshore, red drum and black drum are biting well on Carolina-rigged shrimp around dock pilings and hard structure. There’s also a good shot at sheepshead, especially as more folks get their hands on some fiddler crabs. Expect the sheepshead bite to improve even more as the month rolls on and water temps stay up[3].
Nearshore, it’s all about the Atlantic bonito and Spanish mackerel right now. The bonito bite has been red hot off the artificial reefs and just outside the breakers. Casting spoons—especially the Big Nic Spanish Candy or Clarkspoons—has been the ticket for both bonito and Spanish. Trolling spoons or deep diver plugs will put fish in the boat, but don’t be afraid to cast metal jigs if you see schools blitzing bait. There’s a healthy mix of bluefish and even a few small king mackerel showing up near the same spots[1][3].
Offshore, anglers running out past 100 feet are seeing solid action with black sea bass and big sheepshead on the wrecks. Grouper season just opened up, so the ledges and rocky bottoms are going to be busy with folks targeting grouper and snapper. For those heading farther out, blackfin tuna and wahoo are in the mix, with sailfish soon to follow as the water warms up even more[2][3].
When it comes to bait, fresh shrimp and bloodworms remain excellent choices for bottom species like sea mullet and drum. Artificial lures like Got-Cha plugs and spoons are working well for bluefish off the piers and beaches, while metals and jigs are getting the job done for the Spanish and bonito[4].
For hot spots today, check out the Yaupon Reef and the nearshore ledges just out from Wrightsville Beach for pelagics. Inshore, the docks along the Cape Fear River and the Masonboro Inlet are producing steady numbers of drum and the odd sheepshead.
That’s your report from Artificial Lure—tight lines and I’ll see you on the water!
Sunrise today came right around 6:14 am and sunset will be at 8:00 pm, giving us a solid window for both early and late action. We’ve got a steady southeast wind around 8 to 12 knots this morning, with air temps pushing into the low 80s this afternoon. Skies are partly cloudy and the barometer’s holding steady—ideal conditions to get out there.
On the tidal front, we’re working an early morning rising tide with high tide peaking around 9:30 am and low tide expected about 3:45 pm. This is prime time for inshore and nearshore species to be active, especially around inlets and creek mouths.
Inshore, red drum and black drum are biting well on Carolina-rigged shrimp around dock pilings and hard structure. There’s also a good shot at sheepshead, especially as more folks get their hands on some fiddler crabs. Expect the sheepshead bite to improve even more as the month rolls on and water temps stay up[3].
Nearshore, it’s all about the Atlantic bonito and Spanish mackerel right now. The bonito bite has been red hot off the artificial reefs and just outside the breakers. Casting spoons—especially the Big Nic Spanish Candy or Clarkspoons—has been the ticket for both bonito and Spanish. Trolling spoons or deep diver plugs will put fish in the boat, but don’t be afraid to cast metal jigs if you see schools blitzing bait. There’s a healthy mix of bluefish and even a few small king mackerel showing up near the same spots[1][3].
Offshore, anglers running out past 100 feet are seeing solid action with black sea bass and big sheepshead on the wrecks. Grouper season just opened up, so the ledges and rocky bottoms are going to be busy with folks targeting grouper and snapper. For those heading farther out, blackfin tuna and wahoo are in the mix, with sailfish soon to follow as the water warms up even more[2][3].
When it comes to bait, fresh shrimp and bloodworms remain excellent choices for bottom species like sea mullet and drum. Artificial lures like Got-Cha plugs and spoons are working well for bluefish off the piers and beaches, while metals and jigs are getting the job done for the Spanish and bonito[4].
For hot spots today, check out the Yaupon Reef and the nearshore ledges just out from Wrightsville Beach for pelagics. Inshore, the docks along the Cape Fear River and the Masonboro Inlet are producing steady numbers of drum and the odd sheepshead.
That’s your report from Artificial Lure—tight lines and I’ll see you on the water!