Wilmington Fishing Report: Speckled Trout Bite Heats Up, Kings and Spanish Mackerel Arrive

Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Wilmington fishing report for March 15, 2025. Let me tell you, the fishing's been heating up as we transition into spring. First off, let's talk tides. We've got a high tide at 8:42 AM and another at 9:07 PM, with lows at 2:55 AM and 2:37 PM. Sunrise is at 6:23 AM and sunset at 7:16 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to wet our lines. Weather-wise, we're looking at partly cloudy skies with a high of 68°F and a light southeast breeze around 5-10 mph. Perfect conditions for a day on the water! Now, onto the good stuff - the fish! Inshore, the speckled trout bite has been on fire lately. Anglers have been having success with MirrOlure MR17s and Berkley Gulp shrimp under popping corks around oyster beds and creek mouths. Red drum are also active, with schools being spotted in the shallows. Try sight-casting with gold spoons or soft plastics like Z-Man PaddlerZ. Nearshore, the king mackerel are starting to show up. Slow-trolling live menhaden or blue runners has been the ticket. Don't forget to keep an eye out for Spanish mackerel busting bait on the surface - casting small spoons or Gotcha plugs into the frenzy can lead to some fast action. For you bottom fishing enthusiasts, the black sea bass bite has been steady in the 15-20 mile range. Squid and cut bait on double-drop rigs are producing nice keeper-sized fish. As for hot spots, I'd recommend checking out the rocks around Masonboro Inlet for sheepshead and black drum. The ICW near Wrightsville Beach has been producing good numbers of flounder, especially around docks and drop-offs. Bait-wise, live shrimp and finger mullet are always good choices this time of year. If you're using artificials, don't leave the dock without some soft plastics in white, chartreuse, and natural colors. Remember, folks, the fish are out there and they're hungry. So grab your gear, hit the water, and tight lines to ya! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.