Wilmington Fishing Forecast: Redfish, Mackerel, and Flounder Abound in the Cooler Fall Weather

As of September 30, 2024, the fishing scene in Wilmington, North Carolina is looking promising, especially with the cooler weather setting in. ### Weather and Tidal Conditions Today, you can expect partly cloudy skies with a high of around 75°F and a low of 65°F. The sunrise is at 7:04 AM, and the sunset will be at 6:54 PM. Tides are crucial, and for today, the high tide is at 9:17 AM with a height of 4.5 feet, while the low tide is at 3:33 PM with a height of 0.3 feet. ### Fish Activity The cooler weather has really gotten the redfish biting well, along with a healthy presence of Spanish mackerel. Yesterday, anglers reported catching a good number of red drum, particularly in the creeks, along the Intracoastal Waterway docks, and near oyster rocks where bait is abundant. Flounder are also active, with live bait such as mud minnows and small finger mullet proving effective. ### Types and Amounts of Fish Caught Anglers have been catching a mix of redfish, speckled trout, and flounder in the inshore waters. Spanish mackerel are plentiful when casting to feeding surface fish or trolling with Clark spoons. Some reports indicate catching up to 30 fish in a few hours, with a variety of species including redfish, trout, and mackerel. ### Best Lures and Bait For redfish, Carolina rigs with live or fresh cut bait such as menhaden or mullet are highly effective. Artificial lures like Berkley Gulp Shrimp on 1/8oz or 1/4oz Fusion Jigheads are also working well. Top-water lures like MirrOlure Top Dog Jr’s or Top Pup’s are good for early morning and late afternoon bites along marsh grass lines and shallow oyster rocks. For Spanish mackerel, casting small spoons like Big Nic Spanish candies on light spinning tackle is recommended. ### Hot Spots One of the hot spots is around the inlets and hard bottoms near Wrightsville Beach and Masonboro Island. The creeks and ICW docks are also prime areas for catching redfish. For those venturing a bit further out, the areas around the artificial reefs and the edge of the continental shelf are good for catching larger predator fish like king mackerel and amberjack. Overall, it's a great time to be out on the water in Wilmington, with plenty of fish to go around and favorable weather conditions. Just remember to pack your sunscreen, polarized sunglasses, and a snack or two to make the most of your fishing trip. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.