Wilmington NC Fishing Forecast: Abundant Reds, Specks, and Offshore Targets 12/26/2024

If you're planning to head out fishing in the Wilmington, North Carolina area today, December 26, 2024, here's what you need to know: ### Tides and Weather Today's tides in Wilmington are as follows: the first high tide is at 6:08 AM with a height of 4.11 feet, the low tide is at 12:44 PM with a height of 0.47 feet, and the second high tide is at 6:20 PM with a height of 3.65 feet. Sunrise is at 7:16 AM, and sunset is at 5:09 PM. The moonrise is at 3:17 AM, and the moonset is at 1:44 PM. ### Fish Activity The cooler weather has made for some excellent fishing conditions. Red drum are biting well, especially as they transition into larger winter schools. You can find them in shallower waters, often mixed with black drum. Speckled trout are also very active, particularly in the backs of creeks and along channels. Live shrimp and artificial lures like MirrOlures and soft plastic paddle tails are working well for trout. Black drum are being caught around docks and other hard structures using live or fresh dead shrimp. ### Offshore Fishing For those venturing offshore, king mackerel are abundant in the 20-30 mile range. Bottom fishing in the 60-90 foot range is producing a mixed bag of black sea bass, grouper, vermilion snapper, triggerfish, and American red snapper. Cut baits like squid and finfish, as well as jigging diamond jigs or bucktails, are effective for these species. ### Best Lures and Bait For inshore fishing, live shrimp on a jig head is excellent for sheepshead, while Carolina-rigged dead shrimp works well for black drum. For speckled trout, live bait or artificial lures like MirrOlures and soft plastic paddle tails are top choices. Offshore, trolling with Clark spoons can catch Spanish mackerel, and using dead baits under Big Nic Mac-A-Hoos and Blue Water Candy Shovels is good for king mackerel. ### Hot Spots Masonboro Inlet is a prime spot for catching flounder, bluefish, red drum, and speckled trout. The fishing pier at the North End of Carolina Beach is another popular location, offering access to a variety of species. Additionally, the Cape Fear River and the waters around Kure Beach Pier are known for their rich fish populations. Overall, it's a great time to be out on the water in Wilmington, with plenty of fish activity and various species to target. Enjoy your fishing trip This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.