Wilmington Fishing Forecast: Trout and Stripers On The Bite This Friday

For Friday, January 17, 2025, the fishing scene in Wilmington, NC, is looking promising. Here’s what you need to know: ### Tides and Weather Today's tides are as follows: low tide at 6:08 AM, high tide at 12:03 PM, and another low tide at 6:44 PM. Sunrise is at 7:16 AM, and sunset will be at 5:27 PM. The moon will set at 9:39 AM and rise again at 9:19 PM[2]. ### Fish Activity January is a great time for catching larger speckled trout and striped bass in these waters. Yesterday, anglers reported good catches of speckled trout, particularly in areas like Masonboro Inlet and the Cape Fear River. Striped bass are also active, especially in the deeper sections of the Cape Fear River[1][3]. ### Best Lures and Bait For speckled trout, hard baits like MirrOlures (specifically the 17MR & 22MR series) have been effective. These suspending and sinking baits can lure in some big trout. For striped bass, using swim bait lures such as Berkley Power Bait Cull shad on swimbait hooks like TroKar TK170 and TK178 can be very productive. These lures work well when fishing the drop-offs and grass lines along the edge of the river[5]. ### Hot Spots Masonboro Inlet is one of the best spots for fishing near Wilmington. This area is home to many species including flounder, bluefish, red drum, and speckled trout. Another great spot is the fishing pier at the North End of Carolina Beach, which offers easy access and a variety of fish species[3]. Overall, with the right lures and knowledge of the tides, today should be a good day to catch some quality fish in Wilmington's waters. Make sure to check the local fishing regulations, especially for the catch-and-release only policy on striped bass in the Cape Fear River[5]. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.