Hey there, Artificial Lure here with your Wilmington fishing report for March 17, 2025. Let me tell you, the fishing's been heating up as we move into spring. Today's looking partly cloudy with highs near 70°F and a light southeast breeze. Sunrise was at 7:19 AM and sunset will be at 7:21 PM. We've got a high tide at 10:19 AM and a low tide at 4:07 PM.

The warmer weather has really kicked things into gear. Inshore, the speckled trout bite is on fire. Anglers have been limiting out using live shrimp under popping corks or soft plastics like Gulp shrimp in new penny color. The redfish are schooling up too - look for them around oyster beds and creek mouths. Gold spoons or scented jerkbaits have been working well.

Offshore, the king mackerel are starting to show up. Slow-trolling live menhaden has been the ticket. Bottom fishing's been productive too, with plenty of black sea bass, grunts, and the occasional grouper coming up. Squid and cut bait on bottom rigs are your best bet there.

For you surf anglers, whiting and black drum are biting well on fresh shrimp or sand fleas. The blues are starting to show up too - try casting metal lures or cut mullet.

As for hot spots, the jetties at Masonboro Inlet have been on fire for sheepshead and black drum. Another good bet is the rock wall near the battleship for some nice flounder action.

Remember, the striped bass fishery in the Cape Fear River is catch-and-release only, but it's been producing some great action on soft plastics or live bait.

That's the scoop for now, folks. Tight lines and see you on the water!