Wilmington Fishing Report: Midsummer Bite, Early Risers, and Nearshore Spanish Mackerel Action

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. Thanks for tuning in to today’s Wilmington fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe to This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.