Wilmington Fishing Report: Reds, Trout, and Offshore Kings Bite in Fall Conditions

Good morning from Wilmington! Artificial Lure here with your local fishing report for Sunday, October 26, 2025. Sunrise hit at 7:26 am and sunset’s coming at 6:24 pm, giving us nearly eleven hours of fall light to wet a line. Today brings a mixed bag on the tide: we started low at 6:53 am (0.68 ft), swing high midday—look for the second high tide at 12:42 pm peaking just under 4.75 ft—then it’s back down low around 8:03 pm. That tidal push around midday should make for some prime feeding windows according to Tide-Forecast.com. Major bite times—per Wilmington Beach’s chart—line up well: expect stronger action from 4 pm to 6 pm as the lunar transit hits, with minor flurries just after moonrise at 4:30 pm. Weatherwise, we’re sitting around 72°F, mostly cloudy, with southeast winds blowing steady at 21 mph and gusts close to 30. There’s patchy rain in the air, so bring your rain shell and watch those wind gusts if you plan on hopping out on the open flats today. Water temperatures are a comfortable 76°F—perfect for active redfish and trout. Let’s talk fish: Local chatter and the latest “Atlantic Ocean, North Carolina Daily Fishing Report” podcast have the fall bite absolutely alive. Anglers are landing **red drum** and **speckled trout** inshore—especially around creek mouths, oyster beds, and marsh edges. Some flounder are still showing in the creeks, and piers are reporting Spanish mackerel, blues, and the occasional pompano. Offshore, king mackerel are moving in closer on the temperature breaks. For lures and bait, keep it simple and match the hatch. Early and late, topwater walk-the-dogs (think Spook Jrs. in bone or natural mullet colors) are getting explosive redfish strikes on wind-protected flats. As the sun rises, locals are switching to **soft plastics** (like 3-4” paddle tails in white or chartreuse) rigged on 1/4 oz jig heads, bumped slow around deeper grass edges and dock pilings for trout and reds. If you’re into live bait, finger mullet and shrimp are killer right now, under popping corks for trout and reds or Carolina-rigged for flounder. Don’t forget to bring some fresh cut bait for drum near jetties or creek mouths during the tidal swing. Hot spots? Two top picks for today: - **Carolina Beach Inlet and its nearby marshes**—excellent for reds and trout as moving water pushes baitfish along shoreline drop-offs. - **Masonboro Inlet**—work both the north and south rock jetties for slot drum and the occasional citation flounder, especially around the midday high tide. Bonus: The surf at Wrightsville Beach is still holding some slot drum, blues, and even the random late-run Spanish—metal spoons or gotcha plugs will cover ground and find aggressive fish. Best action lines up with moving water. According to the Atlantic Ocean, North Carolina Daily Fishing Report, don’t be afraid to move around if you’re not hooking up—watch that tide and switch lures to dial in what’s working. Thanks for tuning in to your Wilmington fishing report wi This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.