Wilmington Spring Bite Heats Up: Flounder, Reds, and Bass Rules for Sunday

Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure comin' at ya with your Wilmington, NC fishing report for Sunday, April 26th, right around 3 AM low tide kickin' off the day. Weather's lookin' mild with post-front north winds clearin' the water, temps in the low 60s risin' to mid-70s by afternoon—perfect for dawn and dusk bites when fish go active. Sunrise at 6:42 AM, sunset 7:52 PM, and tides show low at 3 AM, high around 9 AM, then fallin' through evenin' for prime current-swept action. Fish are wakin' up strong this spring. Recent catches around the Cape Fear River, Intracoastal, and nearshore got flounder giggin' in current pockets, largemouth bass chasin' shad on windblown banks, and blue catfish stackin' in deeper bends—folks pullin' limits of 2-5 pounders daily. Surf and piers report speckled trout, red drum up to 25 inches, and black drum on the feed, with sheepshead clingin' to pilings. Offshore, early blues and Spanish mackerel are showin', plus reports of puppy drum schools pushin' bait. Best lures? Slow-roll **paddle tails** like Gulp! Swimming Mullet in natural or chartreuse for flounder and reds—work 'em bottom-bounce near inlets. Crankbaits like Rat-L-Traps or lipless vibes for bass in the river. Topwater poppers at dawn for trout. Live bait shines: shrimp, mullet chunks, or fiddler crabs for drum and cats—use lighter leaders on clear days, upsize after any rain. Hit these hot spots: **Carolina Beach Inlet** for the fallin' tide flounder ambush two hours before/after high, and **Masonboro Island** marshes for reds drainin' bait—position down-current and let it sweep. Y'all stay safe, check regs, and wet a line! Thanks for tunin' in, remindin' ya to subscribe. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.