Artificial Lure here with your Wilmington, North Carolina fishing report for Sunday, August 24, 2025.

The weather this morning is warm and humid with light winds out of the southwest, typical of late August on the Cape Fear coast. We’re looking at a partly cloudy afternoon, temps climbing up toward the high 80s, and a good stretch of stable weather—ideal for a morning or evening bite.

Tides today are running strong with a big swing, thanks to a high tidal coefficient. According to Tide-Forecast.com, your low tide rolls in at 2:56 AM and 3:00 PM, with high tides peaking at 9:04 AM and 9:25 PM. That means fish will be on the move—expect aggressive feeding just before and after the tide changes, especially near creek mouths and inlets.

Sunrise is at 6:39 AM, and sunset drops at 7:47 PM. Prime time on the water is the first two hours after sunrise and last two before sunset—so plan to hit your spots early.

Now to the fishing: it's been an excellent week for redfish, black drum, and Spanish mackerel up and down the Cape Fear region. According to the Wilmington NC Daily Fishing Report, anglers have been pulling solid reds and drum on popping corks and live shrimp near the marsh edges and docks, with drum up to 26 inches reported in the river. Spanish mackerel are blitzing just off the beachfront, especially around Carolina Beach and Wrightsville piers, taking flashy spoons and glass minnows.

The bite’s active for speckled trout too, with anglers finding keeper fish at first light using MirrOlure 52MRs, Z-Man soft plastics, and live mullet. Flounder are being caught on the lower Cape Fear—target drop-offs with finger mullet, Gulp! Swimming Mullets, or bucktail jigs.

Best bait this week: live shrimp and finger mullet for inshore action, with mud minnows a close third. If you prefer artificial, gold and chartreuse paddle tails or silver spoons are getting quick hits, especially with that tidal movement stirring things up.

A few hot spots are lighting up right now:
- Masonboro Inlet: Loads of Spanish, blues, and a few tarpon rolling just offshore. Toss white bucktails or Got-Cha plugs around the deeper channels.
- The docks along Bradley Creek: Great drum numbers on moving tides, especially at dawn with topwater walk-the-dog style lures.
- Snow’s Cut: A steady flounder bite at the deep-water bends and bridge pilings, especially on the dropping tide.

Keep your eye on the changing tides and match your lure or bait to the water clarity. With these strong currents, fish are looking for ambush spots—focus on structure like oyster bars, grass edges, and pilings.

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Artificial Lure here with your Wilmington, NC fishing report for Saturday, August 23, 2025. The morning kicked off with humid air and a light southwestern breeze, around 78°F just after sunrise, which was at 6:37 am, and you’ll have light to fish until sunset at 7:49 pm. We’re riding a midsummer tide swing: the early low set in at about 1:36 am and 1:27 pm, with highs hitting around 7:35 am and again at 8:04 pm. Expect a slow fall through midday—ideal for poking around creek mouths and structured edges inshore.

According to Wilmington NC Daily Fishing Report, anglers are still finding solid action with flounder, red and black drum, and a strong nearshore Spanish mackerel bite. This time of year, with water temps holding near 80°F and daily highs creeping into the mid-80s, the fish are waking up early and shutting down fast by lunchtime, so those first few hours after sunrise—right through the early high tide—are your best bet.

The speckled trout bite is picking back up in the creeks and marshes from Topsail down to Bald Head Island. Lots of fishermen report quality “gator” trout mixed in with schoolies, especially along grassy drop-offs and riprap on a dropping tide. The Betts Halo Shad is producing well, especially in green tiger and chartreuse; work 1/4 to 1/2 ounce sizes with a steady retrieve just enough to make the tail kick. When you can get ‘em, suspending a live shrimp under a popping cork is an old standby and still tops for specks and reds. If live shrimp aren't available, fresh mullet strips or mud minnows on Carolina rigs are accounting for most of the drum and flounder catches.

Anglers working the Cape Fear River have also reported good slot drums on cut crab and scented soft plastics, especially in deeper holes behind structure as the tide falls out. Nearshore, the Spanish are running thick just off Wrightsville and Carolina Beach piers—trolled Clarkspoons and Got-Cha plugs are getting thumped, especially in the early-morning chop. A few small kings have shown up in that same nearshore zone for the patient live-bait folks flying blue runners or menhaden.

Hot spots lately include the mouth of Hewletts Creek at high tide—great for trout and flounder—and the Masonboro Inlet jetty, where red drum have been posted up a couple hours before and after low. Over by Snow’s Cut, flounder are hanging near dock pilings and channel edges.

With the tidal swing running average today and winds staying easy out of the southwest, keep an eye on those bait balls at creek mouths just before slack tide. That’s where you’ll see action from all three inshore favorites—trout, drum, and flounder—as they gather for an easy meal.

Weather looks stable: partly cloudy with a chance of a stray afternoon thunderstorm, but winds under 10 knots make for comfortable inshore and nearshore runs. Just pack the rain gear if you plan to stick it out through the afternoon pop-ups.

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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.

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Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Wednesday, August 20th fishing report for Wilmington, NC and the surrounding waters.

Sunrise hit at 6:36 AM today, with sunset coming at 7:52 PM. The weather is classic late August, muggy with temps pushing into the upper 80s by midday and a light north wind holding steady—expect 10-15 knots most of the day according to the National Weather Service. There’s a small craft advisory running through this evening, so boaters should use extra caution, especially if heading offshore.

On the tidal front, we've got a morning high at 5:48 AM pushing up to 3.7 feet, then the low swings around 11:38 AM, close to flat at 0.03 feet. That means the incoming tide after noon will fuel fish movement, with a strong high at 6:28 PM reaching just under five and a half feet. These shifts line up perfect for afternoon surf and inshore action—expect currents to pick up as that tide ramps.

Fishing’s been rewarding this past week. Inshore, black drum are eating well off the docks, especially on fresh shrimp. CaptainExperiences.com reports a “very productive” bite for these drum along the Intracoastal and marsh edges. Slot reds are hanging around grass lines and creek mouths, hammering live mud minnows, but soft plastics like Z-Man paddletails in rootbeer or opening night have hooked up too. Flounder are showing up more regularly—Gulp! swimming mullets in pink or chartreuse are the ticket near Carolina Beach Inlet and in deeper holes by Snow’s Cut.

Nearshore, Spanish mackerel have been thick between the piers and the three-mile line. Troll Clarkspoons or small silver Got-Cha plugs at 5 knots to cover ground. Find the birds and you’ll find the fish—most catches are coming mid-morning as bait rises on that first push of incoming.

Surf action is classic summer—whiting and croaker are on the chew with fresh cut shrimp or high-low rigs baited with sand fleas. Several reports from anglers around Fort Fisher suggest pompano are still running, mostly taken on Fishbites and small pieces of sandflea.

Offshore, the bite is weather dependent. Seas are bumpy, but charters running last weekend scored solid king mackerel on slow-trolled cigar minnows—put your lines in once you’re on the 65-70 foot ledges. Black sea bass are eager on bottom, biting cut squid and bucktail jigs, and a couple of boats returned with limits of blue tilefish and some yellowfin tuna when conditions allowed, based on reviews from Captain Experiences. Double check the marine forecast if you're heading out deeper, as a tropical system could push winds up once again.

Best bait this week: live shrimp and mud minnows for inshore, cut shrimp and Fishbites in the surf, cigar minnows and squid offshore. Top artificial pick is anything paddle-tailed in natural colors, and for the mackerel, shiny is always right—think Clarkspoon or silver Got-Cha.

For the hotspot rundown, Wrightsville Beach’s public docks and the flats behind Masonboro are paying out for drum and flounder, while the surf near Fort Fisher and the northern tip of Carolina Beach have been reliable for whiting and pompano.

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It’s Artificial Lure here with your Wilmington, NC fishing report for Sunday, August 17, 2025. It’s been a classic summer Carolina weekend—sticky, warm, and just breezy enough to keep things interesting on the water. Sunrise came at 6:34 a.m., and we’re looking at a sunset about 7:55 p.m. today, giving us plenty of light for a full day of action on the Cape Fear and nearby beaches. Let’s get into it.

Tides today are working in our favor if you time it right. Low tide hit around 8:19 a.m., with a beefy high tide rolling in at 3:20 p.m., peaking just over 5.2 feet before dropping off to a low again close to 10 p.m., according to Tide-Forecast. That means mid-morning through late afternoon is prime, especially if you’re working the inshore creeks or looking for big surface bites along the banks.

Weather’s typical August fare—early humidity, creeping into the high 80s by midday, and a slight SW breeze at 10 knots offshore should make for manageable drift. No significant storms brewing, and light chop out at Masonboro and Carolina Beach Inlet, so it’s safe for small craft but bring the sunblock.

Fish activity remains hot. Red drum are thick in the creeks and marshes, and flounder are stacking up near the inlets. Reports from the Spreaker Wilmington NC Fishing Report and charter captains say Spanish mackerel are running strong near the beach, with some bigger kings farther out. In the Gulf Stream, boats pulling ballyhoo and flashy artificial skirts are still finding mahi, blackfin tuna, and the occasional sailfish on longer offshore runs, especially 10-15 miles out from Carolina Beach. Several parties this week boxed a mixed bag of reds, flounder, and trout inshore, along with a few citation-sized speckled trout at the jetties.

Best lures right now: gold spoons and topwater plugs at sunrise for redfish, Gulp shrimp on a jighead or live finger mullet if the bite turns picky. Spanish are smacking silver Got-Cha plugs and flashy Clarkspoons trolled behind the boat just outside the breakers. If you’re deep dropping for flounder or sea bass, switch to bucktail jigs tipped with squid or soft plastics.

Live bait is still king—menhaden and mullet for the big reds and trout, and live shrimp if you can get your hands on ‘em at the bait shop before sunrise. Offshore, nothing beats a fresh rigged ballyhoo.

For hot spots, Carolina Beach Inlet delivers consistent action for flounder and Spanish first thing in the morning on either side of the tide. Further up, try the docks and grass lines along Bradley Creek—early mornings have seen big reds cruising the shallows on higher tides, especially if you sneak in quietly with a kayak or skiff. If you want to chase bluewater beasts, offshore charters out of Wrightsville and Carolina Beach are still reporting steady mahi and wahoo bites—just check conditions before heading that far out.

That wraps up today’s Wilmington, NC fishing report. Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure—don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a tide. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Artificial Lure here with your Wilmington, NC area fishing report for Saturday, August 16, 2025. We had sunrise this morning at 6:33, and expect sunset tonight at 7:57. Tidal swing looks lively today, with high tides rolling in around 1:19 AM and again at 1:09 PM, while your low tides are at 6:24 AM and 7:26 PM, according to Tide-Forecast.com. That means we’ve got a solid midday incoming tide and a falling tide right around the evening bite—both prime opportunities for hooking up.

Weather has been cooperating—expect northeast winds at 10 to 15 knots, and waves around 2 feet. There’s just a slight chance of a passing shower near midday, but mostly we’re sitting on stable fishing conditions, with a moderate chop across the inshore and sounds, as relayed by the National Weather Service Marine Forecast.

This week’s hot catches in and around Wilmington have included hearty numbers of flounder, speckled trout, and red drum. The Cape Fear River mouth and Snows Cut have given up keeper flounder, while the marshes behind Wrightsville Beach continue to see slot reds cruising the grass edges at higher water. Early morning and dusk have brought speckled trout to the surface, with some pushing the 20-inch mark. Local pier reports show Spanish mackerel are blitzing, especially at Johnny Mercer and Carolina Beach piers, with some bluefish mixed in.

Best lures lately have been 4-inch paddletail plastics in “opening night” or silver hues, as well as topwater plugs like the Super Spook Jr.—fish early or late for that aggressive bite. For live bait, it’s tough to beat mud minnows or finger mullet on a Carolina rig for flounder, and live shrimp under popping corks for trout and reds during moving water.

Bait fishermen are also having luck around the jetties and inlet with cut menhaden or shrimp—keep those leaders beefy if you’re hunting drum at the rocks. Spanish mackerel are smashing small silver spoons and Gotchas cast fast and furious in the morning off the end of the piers and boats working the inlets.

A couple Wilmington hotspots to try today:
- Masonboro Inlet—work both jetty sides for flounder and reds, especially near slack to incoming tide.
- Carolina Beach State Park—fish the river at the outgoing tide for trout and flounder, or hit the creeks versus the main channel for that early-morning red.

Midday tidal current picks up nicely, so time your sessions around those movements for best results. Stay aware of the tidal coefficients—they’re at moderate levels, but current can swing fast near inlets and cuts.

Water temps are hanging around typical August highs, which means fish are hugging structure and looking for moving water and shade. Target deeper creek bends and dock pilings as the day heats up, or slide out to nearshore reefs for king mackerel and cobia on live bait.

Thanks for tuning in to your local update from Artificial Lure, reminding you that every tide brings a new bite—so get out there, stay safe, and remember to subscribe for more detailed local fishing insight. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Friday, August 15th, 2025 fishing report from in and around Wilmington, North Carolina.

We’re kicking off the day with a fresh sunrise at 6:33AM and sunset wrapping things up at 7:57PM—giving us plenty of daylight hours to get out there and wet a line. Today’s tides started with a low at 6:24AM, a high rolling in at 1:09PM, and another low at 7:26PM. That midday high is a prime window, with moving water keeping things lively. Tides this week are running strong, with healthy ranges that typically translate to higher bait activity and more aggressive predators, especially as that high approaches and the current picks up according to Tide-Forecast.com.

Weather’s pretty classic for August: muggy start, light southerly winds swinging through the afternoon, and just enough cloud cover to keep things from scorching. Water temps are sitting comfortably in the upper 70s—right where inshore species want it.

Now, onto fish activity. The bite’s been pretty hot this week, with guides and locals alike reporting solid catches of speckled trout, slot reds, the first flurries of flounder moving back inshore, plus snapper and a scattering of late summer snook. Tarpon are still hanging on the outer bars off the river mouth and around the inlets—especially during big tidal shifts midday. Inshore, anglers have been pulling in trout and reds with consistency, with a few bull reds hitting the docks in the evenings.

Best results lately? According to recent trip feedback, folks are tearing it up with artificial lures—think Z-Man soft plastics in natural and chartreuse patterns, paddletails rigged on a 1/8 oz jighead, and MirrOlure suspending twitchbaits near grass lines and creek mouths. If it’s topwater excitement you’re after, hit the early morning with a Spook Jr. for trout and reds blitzing shrimp and mullet near the surface. Live bait is always reliable, especially finger mullet and live shrimp pinned on a Carolina rig. For flounder, Gulp! swimming mullets and bucktail jigs tipped with strip bait are the go-to.

Lately, bottom bounce with cut bait is still putting black drum and sheepshead on the dock piles, while live menhaden slow-trolled along the beachfront is drawing in king mackerel and spanish. Out at the Masonboro jetties, reports of a mixed bag—including ladyfish, blues, and the occasional jack crevalle—help keep rods bent.

For hot spots, Carolina Beach Inlet is firing on all cylinders—just aim for the morning high or the evening fall for trout, flounder, and reds. Wrightsville Beach’s south end flats have been loaded with schooling reds on the rising tide, and the creeks off Hewletts and Bradley with specks and puppy drum on the edges. Don’t overlook Snow’s Cut during strong tidal movement—it’s putting out solid flounder numbers and the odd fat trout.

To sum it up: target the moving tidal windows, pack a few proven artificials, and bring some live bait if you want to hedge your bets. Plenty of action for anglers of all skill levels right now, whether you’re hitting the surf, the river, or backwater creeks.

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Artificial Lure here, bringing you your Wilmington, NC fishing report for Wednesday, August 13, 2025.

Weather this morning is typical late-summer coastal: muggy at dawn, light winds out of the west switching south through the day, with a slight chop on inshore waters. According to the National Weather Service, expect 5–10 knot winds and generally 1 ft or less for wave action. There’s a slight chance of scattered showers and summer thunderstorms by afternoon, so keep an eye on the sky, especially if you’re headed out on the sound or the river.

Sunrise came at 6:26 am, with sunset due at 8:07 pm, giving us over 13 hours of daylight. That means prime time for the morning bite is just wrapping up as folks hit the docks, and there’s another good window right before the sun disappears.

Tides are moderately active today. Tide charts for Wilmington Beach put low tide at 5:58 am and next high tide at 12:35 pm, followed by the outgoing flush through mid-afternoon. The tidal coefficient is on the upswing—starting at 59 and rising toward 70 by sundown. These “average to lively” tides get bait moving and push predators into their favorite ambush spots around creek mouths and marsh edges. If you want the best current, set up an hour before the highs and lows for the strongest bite.

Fishing action has been hot… recent reports from Captain Experiences say anglers are loading up on a mixed bag of flounder, slot reds, speckled trout, and some big black drum. Light tackle is delivering the goods, especially around Wrightsville Beach and the lower Cape Fear marshes. There are still some Spanish mackerel streaking the nearshore shoals, and August sees an uptick in tarpon for the lucky ones that put in the time.

Best baits right now: live mud minnows and finger mullet for flounder and reds. Speckled trout are smashing soft plastics in bone, electric chicken, and natural shad colors. Topwater plugs at sunrise are producing explosive hits from trout and even a few juvenile stripers chasing bait up river. For surf and pier folks, fresh cut bait—menhaden or shrimp—is pulling in drum, whiting, and the occasional croaker.

Wilmington regulars know the go-to lures by heart:
- Z-Man paddletails in Opening Night and Bad Shad.
- MirrOlure MR17 in 808 and “Red Head” for trout.
- Gulp shrimp (3” or 4”), pink or natural, always get bit on jigheads at the marsh points.

A couple of hot spots for today:
- The docks and oyster beds along Bradley Creek: flounder and reds at first light, especially at outgoing tide drop-offs.
- The north end of Carolina Beach State Park by Snow’s Cut: active reds and speckled trout under steady tidal movement, with topwater luck in the sunrise slot.

If you’re feeling adventurous, Fort Fisher flats are holding larger drum on the strong afternoon incoming tide, and Wrightsville Beach jetty has spanish mackerel busting on glass minnows when the tide pushes in.

Local guides say the bite’s strongest when you fish moving water with the lightest tackle you can manage—especially with clear skies and warm summer temperatures. Most are reporting “so many different kinds of fish” on recent trips, with great family outings and good numbers landed.

Pack your sunscreen and plenty of water—these humid August days can sneak up on you, especially once the afternoon storms roll in and drive the bugs out along the marsh.

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Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure coming to you from Wilmington, NC, with today’s fishing report for Sunday, August 10, 2025.

We’re coming off a night of mild northeast winds, easing up through the morning, with today's sunrise at 6:29 and sunset at 8:03. Skies are partly cloudy, temps in the mid-80s by afternoon, humidity high, and just enough breeze to keep the bugs away, but not so much to stir up the water—classic August weather in coastal Carolina.

Tide-wise, you’ve got a low at 2:57 AM, high at 8:58 AM, another low around 2:49 PM, and then a high at 9:21 PM. That morning high tide is prime time for shallow flats and creek mouths, especially with the relative calm after sunrise, so get your lines wet early. Tidal coefficients are moderate today, meaning decent movement but not extreme currents. That’ll keep baitfish moving but won’t be too stressful for those fishing from smaller craft.

According to Capt. Cam Pappass of BlackBird Guide Service, the bite around Bald Head Island, Southport, and Oak Island has been hot all week, with anglers scoring a “coastal mixed bag.” Inshore, redfish are cruising the shallows with their backs out of the water, sometimes belly-crawling along grassy banks. If you’re sight-casting, tie on a gold spoon, Z-Man DieZel Minnow, or a popping cork with live mullet. For the fly crowd, shrimp patterns or crab imitations are money—quick, accurate casts land fish.

Black drum are downright dependable in these waters and especially tolerant to shifting weather and tidal conditions. If redfish are being picky, switch gears—fresh shrimp on the bottom is the top producer for drum and will pull in bonus sheepshead and puppy drum. Folks have been filling limits around docks and oyster beds.

Nearshore, Spanish mackerel are pushing bait just outside the breakers, with catches reported off Wrightsville Beach and Masonboro. Small silver spoons like the Clarkspoon, trolled fast behind planers, are deadly—keep extra wire leaders handy, those teeth will chew you up. Cobia are being caught sporadically on live menhaden or bucktail jigs near nearshore wrecks, though you’ve got to put in your hours for a shot at these bruisers.

Tarpon sightings have ticked up near the mouth of the Cape Fear River—no guarantees here, but August’s migration does produce hookups for patient anglers. Big live mullet is your best shot if you’re hunting silver kings.

Local bait shops say finger mullet and mud minnows are easy to net right now—use them for flounder, which are holding tight to deeper holes near Waterway hotspots. Gulp! baits in white and new penny colors are getting bites midday around Carolina Beach State Park.

Best bait across species: for reds and drum, shrimp and fresh finger mullet; for mackerel, those flash spoons; for flounder, Gulp! on jigheads; for sheepshead, fiddler crabs around structure.

A couple of hot spots worth a shot today:
- The flats behind Masonboro Island at first light for tailing reds and black drum.
- The jetties and nearshore reefs off Wrightsville Beach for Spanish mackerel and a possible cobia.
- The mouth of Bradley Creek for flounder and puppy drum on the outgoing afternoon tide.

Before you head out, check the latest from the NOAA marine forecast; wind and waves are expected to stay light, but storms pop up quickly this time of year—always keep an eye on the sky.

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It’s Artificial Lure with your Wilmington coastal fishing report for Saturday, August 9th, 2025.

We had a humid start this morning, with sunrise peeking over the Cape Fear at 6:29am and sunset rolling in at 8:04pm tonight. Winds out of the northeast at 15 to 20 knots persisted overnight and will stick around through the day, so expect a chop on nearshore waters—seas about 3 to 4 feet. Scattered showers and an outside shot at a thunderstorm means you’ll want your rain jacket close by, especially this afternoon, but skies are breaking with plenty of fishable windows according to the National Weather Service.

Tides are moving strong today. High tide hit about 8:14am, low water is at 2:02pm, and another high comes in at 8:41 tonight. These solid swings are turning up bait, which has fired up the bite in our creeks, inlets, and along the beachfront.

Redfish are holding court in the marshes behind Wrightsville and Carolina Beach. Folks have been hauling in solid slot-sized reds, with quite a few over-slot bulls mixed in. According to the Wilmington NC Fishing Report Daily podcast, the go-to lures have been gold spoons, Z-Man soft plastics in root beer or new penny, and popping corks with Gulp shrimp below. For those fishing cut mullet or live menhaden, action has been hot on the lower half of the falling tide in the creeks and along shell banks at Masonboro and the Cape Fear flats.

Flounder are showing up steady, especially on the outgoing tide. Mud minnows and finger mullet on Carolina rigs are working, but artificials like white Gulp swimming mullets jigged near dock pilings and at the Snow’s Cut drop-offs have accounted for keeper fish. Several anglers reported limits just yesterday.

Spanish mackerel are thick these past few days right off Wrightsville Beach, with birds and busting bait pointing the way outside Johnnie Mercer's Pier and around Topsail Inlet. Silver Clarkspoons and small casting jigs worked behind a planer or on the drift have been producing limit-style action, especially on the morning flood.

Slot drum are staging at the river mouth and up the Intracoastal. Live shrimp under corks and even topwater plugs at first light have triggered aggressive hits. Speckled trout reports have picked up from the docks in Bradley Creek, with MirrOlure 17MRs in pink and chartreuse getting the nod.

Beach fishing is steady: pompano on sand fleas, a few whiting and spot on squid, and some decent bluefish mixed in. Surf City Pier and Seaview Pier have both been active, especially early before crowds pack in. Hit the piers at dawn or join the locals at Masonboro Inlet for your best shot.

Hot spots today: give Wrightsville Beach jetty, Masonboro Inlet, and the flats behind Carolina Beach a go. Inshore kayakers are finding good pockets up tidal creeks behind Snow’s Cut after the rain pushes bait out of the grass.

To sum it up: the tidal swings and stirring winds are fueling active fish. Keep your eyes open for working birds, use bright, scented baits after rain, and don’t be afraid to switch up between natural and artificial offerings—the action is steady if you play the tides right.

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