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Wilmington NC Fishing Report April 2025: Calm Conditions, Hot Inshore & Offshore Action
Good morning, anglers! Here’s your fishing report for Wilmington, NC, for Sunday, April 13, 2025. The weather and water conditions are shaping up for a rewarding day on the water!
The sunrise today was at 6:40 AM, and sunset will be at 7:42 PM. The weather forecast shows clear skies with temperatures ranging from the high 50s in the morning to the mid-70s by afternoon. Winds are mild, coming from the southeast at 5-10 knots, making for calm waters inshore and nearshore. The tide schedule for today is favorable, with a high tide early at 8:30 AM and a low tide at 2:50 PM, followed by another high tide at around 9:00 PM.
Inshore fishing is excellent right now. Red drum and black drum are the most active species, holding mainly in the backs of creeks and shallow bays. These fish are responding well to natural baits like dead shrimp or live mud minnows, particularly when presented on Carolina rigs near structure. Sheepshead are also starting to move inshore and can be found around bridge pilings and docks. Speckled trout are mixing into the creeks, though the larger spring-spawning fish have yet to arrive in numbers.
For lures, soft plastics are highly effective. Gulp shrimp and Z-Man scented baits rigged on jigheads are excellent options. Topwater lures like 4-inch Top Dog Jrs. are perfect for early morning or late evening when the fish are feeding aggressively in shallow waters. Anglers targeting black drum around rock jetties and oyster beds should stick with dead shrimp for the best results.
In the surf and nearshore areas, Virginia mullet and bluefish are biting well. Anglers fishing bottom rigs with fresh shrimp or bloodworms are reporting good results. Offshore, black sea bass remains the primary target in the 15-20 mile range, with strong numbers and good sizes being caught. Trolling Clark spoons for Spanish mackerel is another option, particularly as the water temperatures warm, signaling their arrival.
Some hot spots to try today include the Masonboro Inlet jetties for red drum and black drum action, as well as the creeks off the Cape Fear River for trout and drum. Surf anglers might want to check out Carolina Beach or Wrightsville Beach for Virginia mullet and bluefish.
It's a perfect day to hit the water, so grab your favorite gear, and remember to adjust your tactics based on the tides and location. Tight lines, and have a great time fishing in Wilmington!
The sunrise today was at 6:40 AM, and sunset will be at 7:42 PM. The weather forecast shows clear skies with temperatures ranging from the high 50s in the morning to the mid-70s by afternoon. Winds are mild, coming from the southeast at 5-10 knots, making for calm waters inshore and nearshore. The tide schedule for today is favorable, with a high tide early at 8:30 AM and a low tide at 2:50 PM, followed by another high tide at around 9:00 PM.
Inshore fishing is excellent right now. Red drum and black drum are the most active species, holding mainly in the backs of creeks and shallow bays. These fish are responding well to natural baits like dead shrimp or live mud minnows, particularly when presented on Carolina rigs near structure. Sheepshead are also starting to move inshore and can be found around bridge pilings and docks. Speckled trout are mixing into the creeks, though the larger spring-spawning fish have yet to arrive in numbers.
For lures, soft plastics are highly effective. Gulp shrimp and Z-Man scented baits rigged on jigheads are excellent options. Topwater lures like 4-inch Top Dog Jrs. are perfect for early morning or late evening when the fish are feeding aggressively in shallow waters. Anglers targeting black drum around rock jetties and oyster beds should stick with dead shrimp for the best results.
In the surf and nearshore areas, Virginia mullet and bluefish are biting well. Anglers fishing bottom rigs with fresh shrimp or bloodworms are reporting good results. Offshore, black sea bass remains the primary target in the 15-20 mile range, with strong numbers and good sizes being caught. Trolling Clark spoons for Spanish mackerel is another option, particularly as the water temperatures warm, signaling their arrival.
Some hot spots to try today include the Masonboro Inlet jetties for red drum and black drum action, as well as the creeks off the Cape Fear River for trout and drum. Surf anglers might want to check out Carolina Beach or Wrightsville Beach for Virginia mullet and bluefish.
It's a perfect day to hit the water, so grab your favorite gear, and remember to adjust your tactics based on the tides and location. Tight lines, and have a great time fishing in Wilmington!
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By Quiet. PleaseGood morning, anglers! Here’s your fishing report for Wilmington, NC, for Sunday, April 13, 2025. The weather and water conditions are shaping up for a rewarding day on the water!
The sunrise today was at 6:40 AM, and sunset will be at 7:42 PM. The weather forecast shows clear skies with temperatures ranging from the high 50s in the morning to the mid-70s by afternoon. Winds are mild, coming from the southeast at 5-10 knots, making for calm waters inshore and nearshore. The tide schedule for today is favorable, with a high tide early at 8:30 AM and a low tide at 2:50 PM, followed by another high tide at around 9:00 PM.
Inshore fishing is excellent right now. Red drum and black drum are the most active species, holding mainly in the backs of creeks and shallow bays. These fish are responding well to natural baits like dead shrimp or live mud minnows, particularly when presented on Carolina rigs near structure. Sheepshead are also starting to move inshore and can be found around bridge pilings and docks. Speckled trout are mixing into the creeks, though the larger spring-spawning fish have yet to arrive in numbers.
For lures, soft plastics are highly effective. Gulp shrimp and Z-Man scented baits rigged on jigheads are excellent options. Topwater lures like 4-inch Top Dog Jrs. are perfect for early morning or late evening when the fish are feeding aggressively in shallow waters. Anglers targeting black drum around rock jetties and oyster beds should stick with dead shrimp for the best results.
In the surf and nearshore areas, Virginia mullet and bluefish are biting well. Anglers fishing bottom rigs with fresh shrimp or bloodworms are reporting good results. Offshore, black sea bass remains the primary target in the 15-20 mile range, with strong numbers and good sizes being caught. Trolling Clark spoons for Spanish mackerel is another option, particularly as the water temperatures warm, signaling their arrival.
Some hot spots to try today include the Masonboro Inlet jetties for red drum and black drum action, as well as the creeks off the Cape Fear River for trout and drum. Surf anglers might want to check out Carolina Beach or Wrightsville Beach for Virginia mullet and bluefish.
It's a perfect day to hit the water, so grab your favorite gear, and remember to adjust your tactics based on the tides and location. Tight lines, and have a great time fishing in Wilmington!
The sunrise today was at 6:40 AM, and sunset will be at 7:42 PM. The weather forecast shows clear skies with temperatures ranging from the high 50s in the morning to the mid-70s by afternoon. Winds are mild, coming from the southeast at 5-10 knots, making for calm waters inshore and nearshore. The tide schedule for today is favorable, with a high tide early at 8:30 AM and a low tide at 2:50 PM, followed by another high tide at around 9:00 PM.
Inshore fishing is excellent right now. Red drum and black drum are the most active species, holding mainly in the backs of creeks and shallow bays. These fish are responding well to natural baits like dead shrimp or live mud minnows, particularly when presented on Carolina rigs near structure. Sheepshead are also starting to move inshore and can be found around bridge pilings and docks. Speckled trout are mixing into the creeks, though the larger spring-spawning fish have yet to arrive in numbers.
For lures, soft plastics are highly effective. Gulp shrimp and Z-Man scented baits rigged on jigheads are excellent options. Topwater lures like 4-inch Top Dog Jrs. are perfect for early morning or late evening when the fish are feeding aggressively in shallow waters. Anglers targeting black drum around rock jetties and oyster beds should stick with dead shrimp for the best results.
In the surf and nearshore areas, Virginia mullet and bluefish are biting well. Anglers fishing bottom rigs with fresh shrimp or bloodworms are reporting good results. Offshore, black sea bass remains the primary target in the 15-20 mile range, with strong numbers and good sizes being caught. Trolling Clark spoons for Spanish mackerel is another option, particularly as the water temperatures warm, signaling their arrival.
Some hot spots to try today include the Masonboro Inlet jetties for red drum and black drum action, as well as the creeks off the Cape Fear River for trout and drum. Surf anglers might want to check out Carolina Beach or Wrightsville Beach for Virginia mullet and bluefish.
It's a perfect day to hit the water, so grab your favorite gear, and remember to adjust your tactics based on the tides and location. Tight lines, and have a great time fishing in Wilmington!