Wilmington Fishing Report: Red Drum, Black Drum, and Early Bonito Bite Heating Up for Spring

Good morning anglers! Here’s your Saturday fishing report for April 12, 2025, for the waters in and around Wilmington, NC. The weather is looking favorable today with mild spring temperatures, partly cloudy skies, and a light southeast breeze. Tides are incoming this morning, making for excellent fishing in shallower areas. Sunrise was at 6:47 AM, and sunset will be at 7:40 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to reel in some good catches. **Inshore**: Red drum and black drum are biting consistently in the backs of creeks and shallow bays. Targeting these fish around oyster beds, docks, and other structures using dead shrimp or mud minnows on Carolina rigs is a proven tactic. The red drum are still mixed in winter and spring patterns, but they’re becoming more aggressive, with some slot-sized reds moving into the ICW and creeks. Speckled trout are also showing up, and while most are smaller, expect activity to pick up. Try a Z-Man or Gulp soft plastic on jig heads for trout and reds alike. **Surf fishing** has been productive too, with whiting, croakers, and even a few bluefish being landed by anglers. Bottom rigs with fresh shrimp or bloodworms are working well here. If you’re near the Masonboro jetties, don’t forget to bring heavier jig heads or live shrimp to entice reds and black drum holding around the structure. **Nearshore**: The black sea bass action remains strong 15-20 miles off the beach. Anglers are pulling in good numbers of "keeper-sized" sea bass on bottom rigs baited with squid or cut bait. Trollers should be on the lookout for early-season Atlantic bonito as warmer water temperatures push them closer to nearshore wrecks and reefs. **Best Bait and Lures**: For red and black drum, dead shrimp remains the go-to bait, while mud minnows are great for versatility. In artificial options, soft plastics like Gulp shrimp, paddle tails, and Z-Man baits on lighter weights are producing bites. For surf anglers, fresh shrimp and bloodworms on a bottom rig are essential, and nearshore anglers chasing bonito or Spanish mackerel will want to use Clark spoons and feather rigs. **Recent Highlights**: Anglers have been reporting solid catches of red drum in the backs of creeks, along with black drum near docks and bridges. Atlantic bonito are just starting to show on deeper wrecks, and the black sea bass bite further offshore has been very reliable for those willing to make the trip. **Hot Spots**: 1. The Cape Fear River near oyster beds and creeks for reds and trout. 2. Masonboro Inlet and surrounding jetties for red drum, black drum, and sheepshead. 3. Nearshore wrecks 15-20 miles out for black sea bass and the chance of bonito. With warming water temperatures and active fish, now's an excellent time to hit the water around Wilmington. Tight lines, and good luck! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.