Wilmington Fishing Report: Spring Inshore and Nearshore Action Heats Up

Good morning anglers! Here’s your fishing report for Wilmington, North Carolina, on Monday, April 14, 2025. The inshore and nearshore waters are alive with action as spring patterns settle in. **Tide Report:** The first low tide today is at 5:45 AM, with a minimal depth of 0.04 ft, while the first high tide is at 11:20 AM, reaching 4.06 ft. The second low tide will occur at 5:37 PM (0.19 ft), followed by a late high tide at 11:37 PM (4.79 ft). Sunrise is at 6:41 AM, and sunset is at 7:42 PM—perfect for early morning or late evening fishing when the bite tends to be strongest. **Weather Conditions:** Expect mild temperatures in the mid-60s to low-70s today with partly cloudy skies—a bonus for low-light fishing conditions. Light winds promise smooth waters, making it an excellent day to be on the water. **Fish Activity:** The inshore action for red drum and black drum remains strong. Red drum are feeding actively along marsh edges, oyster beds, and creek channels, especially during the rising and high tide. Black drum are holding steady around docks and hard structures, responding well to shrimp. Speckled trout are starting to move into the creeks and shallows, with suspending lures like MirrOlure 17MR working effectively. Nearshore, black sea bass are biting well in the 15- to 20-mile range, using fresh shrimp or squid on bottom rigs. Additionally, anglers are beginning to encounter Atlantic bonito near deeper wrecks as water temperatures gradually warm. **Hot Spots:** - **Cape Fear River and Masonboro Inlet:** Excellent for red and black drum. Use Carolina rigs with live or cut bait near structure. - **Wrightsville Beach Jetty:** Producing speckled trout and red drum; suspending and soft plastic lures have been the top performers. - **Carolina Beach Inlet:** Ideal for drum, especially near high tide. **Recent Catches:** Surf anglers have reported Virginia mullet, bluefish, and the occasional red drum along the beaches. Inshore anglers are landing plenty of red drum and black drum around structure. The nearshore reefs continue to produce solid numbers of black sea bass, with sizes ranging from small to impressive jumbos. **Best Bait and Lures:** - **Inshore:** Dead shrimp, live mud minnows, and cut mullet are reliable choices for drum. Soft plastics like Gulp shrimp or Z-Man paddletails are highly effective when fished on light jigheads. - **Nearshore:** Fresh shrimp and squid are go-to baits for sea bass. For Atlantic bonito, try trolling Clark spoons or using small metal jigs. - **Topwater Action:** Early morning or late evening calls for lures like Top Pup or Top Dog Jr., especially for surface-feeding red drum. Get out there and make it a productive day—you have calm weather, optimal tides, and plenty of fish waiting! Tight lines! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.