Wilmington Fall Fishing: Reds, Trout, and More Biting on Dropping Tides

Artificial Lure here with your Wilmington NC fishing report for Sunday, November 16, 2025. If you’re up with the sun, it’s rising at 7:18 AM and setting at 6:36 PM, giving you a nice wide window to hit the water. Today’s weather is classic coastal fall—expect cool early temps warming up by midday, light winds under 10 knots, and mostly clear skies. That’s a prime setup for active fish and comfortable casting. Tide action’s the story this morning. Wilmington Beach sees a high tide around 4:49 AM at 4.7 feet, and low tide right at 10:59 AM dropping to about 0.6 feet. Those mid-morning hours on the dropping tide should have the fish feeding hard, especially as water drains from the marshes and flats bringing baitfish out of hiding. Solunar activity is rated “average”—not peak, but definitely worth getting after the bite. Angler buzz from Saturday and earlier this week highlighted solid catches: slot reds holding in the creeks, nice speckled trout biting around the jetties and deeper cuts, and flounder coming in on sandy drop-offs near Masonboro and Wrightsville Beach. According to local guide reports, boats heading out near Carolina Beach snagged red and gag grouper, mangrove snapper, and even some early-season snook—rare but not unheard of this far north when the water stays mild. Best producers right now are **soft plastics** in natural shrimp or minnow styles—think Z-Man or DOA paddle tails—fished slowly near structure. A popping cork rig with live shrimp is deadly on trout at daybreak, and cut mullet remains king for reds working the mouths of feeder creeks. Artificial jerkbaits and MirrOlures have tricked bigger trout, especially as that post-cold-front push moves them out of deeper channels at low tide. Looking for a couple hotspots? Here’s where I’d put my time today: - **Wrightsville Beach South End Jetty:** Trout and reds hold tight at first light, then move into the channel as sun climbs. - **Masonboro Inlet flats:** Flounder and slot reds stack up where shallow currents dump into deeper runs—bring some live mud minnows to drift just above the sand. - **Snows Cut and Carolina Beach State Park:** Sheepshead working pilings, reds just off the grass edges. Reports from fishingreminder.com and Captain Experiences also confirm mahi and king mackerel are still a possibility for nearshore folks trolling spoons or cigar minnows beyond the breakers, though action slows with cooler water this time of year. Bait shops are moving plenty of frozen finger mullet, but the real trick is grabbing live shrimp early. If you’re fishing artificials, go subtle—light jigs, slow retrieves, and keep your color anchored on the natural side unless the water muddies up with strong tides. Overall, fish are chewing—amounts depend on effort and tide: trout catches reported into the double digits around the bridges, reds are running a mix of slot fish and a few over, with bonus flounder and sheepshead in rocky areas. Be safe on the ramps, be courteous, and don’t f This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.