Wilmington Fishing Report: Reds, Trout, and Spanish Heating Up for Spring

Artificial Lure here with your latest Wilmington, NC fishing report for Wednesday, April 23, 2025. Spring fishing is turning on strong and the action is only getting better. The tide schedule is keeping things interesting today, with a low tide early this morning, a solid high right around mid-morning, dropping to another low mid-afternoon, and an evening high just before sunset. Sunrise was at 6:45 AM and you can expect sunset at 7:40 PM, so there’s plenty of daylight to get after them. Mild temps in the mid to upper 60s and overcast skies are on tap—perfect for fish feeding near the surface, especially in low light this morning and later in the evening[5]. Inshore is really picking up. Red drum and black drum are feeding actively with the warming water. Reds are thick around the usual spots: oyster beds, creek mouths, and dock pilings, with some tailing during high tide right up on the marsh grass. Live or fresh dead shrimp on a Carolina rig is the local favorite, but scented Gulp shrimp and Z-Man soft plastics on light jigheads are pulling bites too[3][5]. The black drum are hanging near jetties and docks—just toss some fresh shrimp around the structure and wait for those thumps. Speckled trout are also making a solid showing, especially in creeks and deeper holes. There’s been a good trout bite lately; one crew reported catching 68 trout in a recent session, so numbers are up and some fish are pushing the 20 inch mark[2]. If you’re after bluefish or Spanish mackerel, there’s action heating up around the inlets and along the beaches. Clark spoons and small trolling plugs are working well for Spanish, while casting flashy spoons or Gotcha plugs will fool the blues[4]. The surf is seeing some Virginia mullet and the occasional red drum, especially in the early mornings and evenings[3]. The nearshore grounds are still kicking out plenty of black sea bass in the 15-20 mile range, while Gulf Stream trips are finding wahoo and blackfin tuna for those making the run offshore[3]. Hot spots to check out today include the creeks behind Wrightsville Beach and the Masonboro jetties for inshore drum action. The mouth of the Cape Fear River is always productive for trout and blues this time of year. To sum up: Get out early or fish the evening high, target reds and blacks on shrimp or soft plastics, and keep an eye out for surface activity from Spanish and blues at the inlets. Today’s conditions are favorable for a bend in the rod. Tight lines and see you on the water. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.