"Wilmington Fishing Report: Red Drum, Speckled Trout, and Pompano Thriving in Fall Conditions"

As of November 28, 2024, the fishing scene in Wilmington, NC, is looking promising despite the recent ups and downs in weather conditions. ### Tidal and Weather Report Today, the sun rises at 6:53:51 AM and sets at 5:03:32 PM, giving us about 10 hours of daylight. The tidal coefficient is relatively low at 48, indicating smaller tidal ranges and weaker currents. The high tide is at 7:32 AM and 4:32 PM, with low tides at 2:04 PM and 11:15 PM[3]. ### Fish Activity Red drum are actively biting, particularly around docks and jetties. Anglers have been successful using cut baits like shrimp and finger mullet. Inshore areas, especially around creek mouths and near the inlet, are seeing a decent red drum bite[2]. Speckled trout are starting to show up in the creeks, with most fish in the 12-19” range. They are hitting live bait and artificials such as soft plastics, MirrOlures, and shrimp imitation lures. Topwater plugs are effective early in the morning, while soft plastics work better as the sun rises[2]. In the surf, pompano and sea mullet are being caught using sand fleas and sand flea-flavored Fishbites. Spanish mackerel and false albacore are still present, though their numbers are spotty. King mackerel are moving offshore but can still be found in the 5-10 mile range[2]. ### Best Lures and Bait For redfish, a gold spoon is excellent in murky waters, while Z Man Paddle tails on an Eye Strike Jig Head work well in clearer waters. For fly fishing, darker flies like black, purple, and dark brown are good in tanic waters, while tan or white flies are better in clear waters[1]. For speckled trout, soft plastics and topwater plugs are recommended. Live bait such as shrimp and finger mullet are also effective for both red drum and speckled trout[2]. ### Hot Spots - **Docks along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW):** These areas are producing good numbers of red drum using cut baits. - **Creek mouths near the inlet:** These spots are ideal for targeting speckled trout and red drum. - **Jetties:** Good action for red drum, especially on incoming tides. - **Surf zone:** Pompano and sea mullet are being caught here using sand fleas and sand flea-flavored Fishbites. Overall, the cooler weather is bringing out the fish, and with the right lures and bait, anglers are having a productive time on the waters around Wilmington. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.