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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