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Wilmington NC Fishing Report Today

Get the latest updates on fishing conditions in Wilmington, North Carolina, with the 'Wilmington NC Fishing Report Today.' Our daily podcast offers real-time insights on tides, weather, fish activity, and the best spots to cast your line. Perfect for local anglers or visitors, we provide expert advice, interviews with seasoned fishermen, and all the info you need for a great day on the water in Wilmington. Tune in daily for everything you need to know about fishing in Wilmington, NC!For more https://www.quietperiodplease.com/Get all your gear befoe you leave the dock https://amzn.to/3zF8GXkThis show includes AI-generated content.

  1. 356

    Early Summer Red Drum and Speckled Trout Bite Along the Cape Fear Coast

    This is Artificial Lure with your Wilmington, North Carolina fishing report. We’re sitting under a classic early‑summer pattern along the Cape Fear coast. Light southwest wind this morning, building to a 10–15 knot sea breeze this afternoon, warm and humid with highs in the upper 80s to near 90. Skies are partly cloudy, with a stray afternoon storm possible inland pushing outflow toward the river and ICW later in the day. Along the beaches and in the river, local tide tables from the Cape Fear River gauge at downtown Wilmington show a pre‑dawn high tide, falling through the morning, with low tide mid‑day and another flood pushing in late afternoon into evening. That gives you moving water most of the day if you plan it right. Sunrise is just after 6 a.m. and sunset just after 8:20 p.m., so you’ve got long low‑light windows to work topwater. Inshore, folks have been steady on **red drum**, **speckled trout**, and a mix of **flounder** around Wrightsville Beach, Masonboro, and down toward Carolina Beach. Local tackle shops in the area report slot reds chewing best on the last of the falling and first of the incoming tide, especially along marsh points, creek mouths, and the edges of oyster bars. Specks are still hanging in slightly deeper bends and along drop‑offs in the ICW and feeder creeks. Flounder catches are scattered but improving around inlets, docks, and the river rock walls. Best lures right now: - For reds: 3–4 inch paddle‑tail plastics in natural or new penny on 1/8–1/4 oz jigheads, and gold spoons slow‑rolled over grass edges. - For trout: small paddle‑tails and jerk shads in white or chartreuse, plus topwaters like a Spook Jr. at first light along current seams. - For flounder: Gulp shrimp or mullet on a jig, hop‑and‑dragged along the bottom near structure. Top baits: live **mud minnows**, **finger mullet**, and **shrimp**. Reds have been hammering live bait under popping corks; trout are responding to live shrimp drifted with the tide; flounder are taking live minnows on Carolina rigs fished tight to pilings and rock. Nearshore, anglers running just off the beach to the AR reefs and livebottom are finding **Spanish mackerel**, the odd **king**, and **bluefish**. Small Clarkspoons and other chrome spoons behind planers or mackerel trees are producing Spanish, especially when you find glass minnows flipping on the surface. Early morning is key before that sun gets high. Out at the jetties and along the river, there have been a few **black drum** and **sheepshead** caught on fresh shrimp and fiddler crabs, fished tight to the rocks and pilings. Use just enough weight to keep your bait in place in the current. A couple of local hot spots to circle on the map: - **Masonboro Inlet and surrounding marsh**: Work the inlet edges and nearby grass lines on the moving tide for reds and trout; then slide inside and pick at flounder on the drops. - **Carolina Beach Inlet and Snows Cut area**: Current‑swept structure, docks, and rock hold a good mix of reds, trout, flounder, and the occasional drum when the water is moving. Focus on tide changes, keep an eye out for bait getting nervous on the surface, and match your lure size to the bait in the water. Light leaders in that 15–20 lb range will get more bites in the clear water around the inlets. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

  2. 355

    Wilmington Summer Bite: Reds, Trout, and Flounder Firing Early and Late

    Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Wilmington fishing report. We’ve got a classic summer setup along the lower Cape Fear. Light southwest breeze early, building 10–15 by afternoon, with scattered clouds and that sticky coastal humidity. Air temps climbing through the 80s, nearshore water temps riding in the upper 70s. Sunrise was right around 6 a.m., sunset just after 8:30 p.m., so you’ve got a long window, but the best bite is stacking up early and late. Tide-wise on the Cape Fear and around Masonboro, you’re looking at a morning incoming that tops out mid‑morning, then a falling tide through the afternoon. That clean, pushing water on the first half of the flood has been money in the creeks; the first two hours of the outgoing are firing around the inlets and jetties. Inshore, redfish and speckled trout have been the headliners. Local charter captains around Wrightsville and Carolina Beach report solid numbers of slot reds on the grass lines and oyster edges, especially where there’s a little current wrap and bait stacked up. Trout have been chewing at first light on the ICW drop‑offs and around the bridges. Flounder catches are picking up too, with a mix of keepers and shorts around dock pilings and creek mouths. Best inshore lures: - For reds: 3–4 inch paddle‑tail soft plastics in new penny or dark mullet colors on 1/8 to 1/4 oz jigheads; topwater walkers in bone or chrome at daybreak along the grass. - For trout: small paddletails in pearl or gray on light jigs, MirrOlure style twitchbaits, and spook‑style topwaters at first light. - Flounder: Gulp shrimp or mullet on a jig slowly bounced along the bottom, or a simple live mud minnow on a Carolina rig. Best baits: live finger mullet, mud minnows, and shrimp under a popping cork on the edges of the marsh. That cork‑and‑shrimp combo has been putting mixed bags of reds, trout, and the occasional black drum in the boat. Nearshore, just off Wrightsville and Carolina Beach Inlets, boats have been finding Spanish mackerel and some big bluefish on the tide lines and near the nearshore reefs. Glass minnows and small menhaden are thick; when you see birds dipping and bait spraying, slide in and cast. Good producers are small Clarkspoons and Yo‑Zuri style minnows trolled on light planers, or 1/2 oz metal spoons and gotcha plugs cast into the schools. A few king mackerel have been coming off the closer reefs on slow‑trolled live baits. A couple of local hot spots to circle on your map: - Masonboro Inlet: work the jetty rocks and nearby creek mouths on that incoming tide for trout, reds, and flounder. - Carolina Beach Inlet and the Snow’s Cut area: good current, structure, and plenty of bait – redfish and flounder have both been coming from that stretch. If you’re bank fishing, hit the public docks along the ICW at first light with live shrimp or mud minnows; plenty of folks have been walking away with dinner lately. For surf anglers, fish the deeper cuts and sloughs with shrimp or sand fleas for sea mullet, small drum, and the occasional pompano. That’s the rundown from around Wilmington. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

  3. 354

    Early Summer Bite: Red Drum, Trout, and Spanish Mackerel Off Wilmington

    Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your coastal fishing rundown for the Wilmington, North Carolina area. We’re sitting under a classic early-summer pattern: warm, muggy air, light southwest breeze this morning building to 10–15 knots by afternoon, and a small sea breeze chop on the beach. Air temps are running mid‑70s at first light, climbing into the mid‑80s by mid‑day. Skies are partly cloudy with a chance of a brief afternoon shower or rumble inland. Sunrise hit right around quarter after six, and you’ll have light on the water until about 8:30 this evening, so there’s a long window to work both ends of the day. Tides around the Cape Fear are on a moderate cycle. Inshore creeks and the river are seeing a solid push of water on the flood through mid‑morning, then a draining ebb through early afternoon. Around Wrightsville and Carolina Beach inlets, the strongest currents are lining up mid‑tide; that’s been the sweet spot for feeding fish along the jetties and the bars. Plan your moves around that moving water—slack has been as dead as it sounds. Fish activity’s been good if you pick your windows. Inshore, the red drum bite has stayed steady on the higher stages of the tide, especially along flooded grass edges and oyster points. Anglers are picking up mixed slots and a few over‑slots; a half‑dozen fish in a tide cycle is realistic if you stay mobile. Speckled trout are still chewing in the deeper creek mouths and along the Intracoastal ledges early and late, with a mix of schoolies and the occasional 20‑inch class fish. Flounder are nosing into the inlets and around docks; numbers aren’t crazy, but a couple of keepers per serious trip has been common. On the nearshore side, just off Wrightsville and Carolina Beach, folks have been seeing good numbers of Spanish mackerel and blues along the color changes and around the nearshore reefs. A decent king mackerel or two has been coming from the 5–10 mile range, and the bottom guys are picking up sea bass and grunts with a few grouper deeper. Best producers inshore have been **live shrimp** and **mud minnows** under a popping cork or on a Carolina rig for reds and trout. Cut mullet soaked on the edges of oysters has been key for the bigger reds. Artificial‑wise, work **3–4 inch paddletails** in natural colors on 1/8 to 1/4 ounce jigheads along dropoffs, and **MirrOlure‑style hard baits** at first light for trout. For flounder, a white or chartreuse Gulp swimming mullet on a jighead dragged slowly along the bottom has been putting fish in the box. Nearshore, **small metal spoons** and **Clark‑style spoons** pulled behind planers or mackerel trees have been hot for Spanish and blues. For kings, slow‑trolled live menhaden on stinger rigs around bait pods and livebottom has been the ticket. If you’re bottom fishing, squid strips and cut cigar minnows on basic two‑hook rigs are all you need. A couple of local hot spots to circle on your mental map: – **Masonboro Inlet and the adjacent jetties**: good mix of reds, trout, and flounder on the inshore side early, plus Spanish and blues just outside when the bait stacks up. – **Snow’s Cut and the Carolina Beach Inlet area**: steady red drum and flounder action around the bridge, docks, and dropoffs, with current breaks holding fish on the moving tides. Work the low‑light hours, respect the storms that build after lunch, and fish that moving water and you’ll put some bend in the rod today. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

  4. 353

    Early Summer Red Drum and Flounder Bite Heating Up Along Cape Fear Coast

    This is Artificial Lure with your Wilmington, North Carolina fishing report. We’ve got a classic early‑summer pattern setting up along the Cape Fear coast. Around Wilmington, first light fishing is key. Sunrise is right around 6:00 a.m. with sunset near 8:30 p.m., so you’ve got long feeding windows on either side of the day. Local tide tables for the Cape Fear River and Masonboro area show a pre‑dawn incoming tide, flipping to outgoing mid‑morning, then another push back in late afternoon. Work those tide changes hard. Weather is warm and muggy, with daytime highs climbing into the upper 80s to low 90s, a light southwest breeze and typical coastal humidity. Expect scattered clouds and the chance of a pop‑up shower after lunch, but winds stay manageable for inshore and nearshore boats. That southwest flow stacks bait along the beaches and in the inlets. Inshore, the red drum bite has been steady. Anglers are picking up slot reds along flooded grass edges and oyster bars on the rising tide. Best baits: live or cut mullet, live shrimp under a popping cork, and mud minnows on a Carolina rig. If you’re throwing artificials, tie on a 3–4 inch paddle tail in natural mullet or new penny colors, or a gold‑blade spinnerbait slow‑rolled along the bank. Folks working creeks off the Intracoastal are also finding a mixed bag of reds and flounder around dock pilings. Speaking of flounder, they’ve been coming off sandy drops near inlet mouths and around the jetties. Live finger mullet or mud minnows on a fish‑finder rig are producing, along with white or glow bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp swimming mullet. A few keepers are showing up, but expect to weed through some shorts. Speckled trout action is fair but worth the effort at first and last light. Look around deeper bends, grass points, and current seams. Topwater plugs in bone or chrome early, then switch to soft plastics on 1/8–1/4 oz jigheads once the sun climbs. Mirrored jerkbaits and shrimp‑imitating plastics under a cork are good bets if the water’s a bit stained. Nearshore, small boats running a few miles off Wrightsville and Carolina Beach are finding Spanish mackerel and bluefish around bait pods and near the inlets. Troll Clark spoons, small drone spoons, or flashy casting jigs behind planers and #1 planing boards. When they’re busting on top, you can have a blast casting gotcha plugs and small metals into the feeds. King mackerel action is starting to pick up on the nearshore live‑bottom and wrecks with live menhaden slow‑trolled on wire stinger rigs. A few cobia are still wandering the nearshore waters. Keep a heavier spinning rod rigged with a bucktail jig or a live bait ready if you see one cruising behind rays or hanging around wreck buoys. Couple of hot spots to circle on your chart today: – **Masonboro Inlet and the adjacent jetties**: solid mix of reds, flounder, and trout on the inside; Spanish and blues just outside on the tide lines. – **Carolina Beach Inlet and Snows Cut**: good current, lots of bait, and a dependable bite for reds, flounder, and the occasional trout, especially around the bridges and rock edges. Focus on moving water, keep an eye out for nervous bait and birds, and don’t be afraid to switch between live bait and artificials until you dial in what they want. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for more local fishing updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

  5. 352

    Early Summer Cape Fear: Reds, Specks, and Inlet Action – Tide Strategy Guide

    This is Artificial Lure with your Wilmington, North Carolina fishing report. We’ve got a classic early-summer pattern setting up along the Cape Fear. Light southwest breeze this morning, climbing toward the mid‑80s this afternoon with humidity creeping up and a small chance of a pop‑up thunderstorm late day. Water temps are running in the upper 70s to low 80s inshore and nearshore. According to the National Weather Service marine outlook, seas are sitting around 2 to 3 feet with a light chop inshore. Tide-wise, NOAA’s Cape Fear River and Masonboro Inlet gauges show a predawn low tide, a strong incoming through the morning, and a mid‑afternoon high. That gives you a great moving‑water window from first light through late morning, then again late day as the water dumps out. Sunrise is right around 6 a.m. and sunset near 8:30 p.m., so you’ve got a long day of low‑angle light to work those shadows along docks, marsh edges, and oyster bars. Inshore, red drum and speckled trout have been the headliners. Local inshore reports say slot reds are chewing around the ICW docks from Wrightsville down toward Carolina Beach—especially where there’s shade and current. Anglers have been finding 2–4 fish per stop on the better docks, with a few upper‑slot and over‑slot reds mixed in. Specks are still hanging in creek mouths and along grass points with good current; most catches are in that 14–18 inch range, with a few keepers pushing 20 inches. Flounder action has picked up around inlets and deeper creek bends. Several local tackle shops reported anglers catching 3–6 flounder a trip, with a mix of shorts and a few solid keepers near structure and channel edges. Nearshore, the Spanish mackerel bite has been steady at the inlets and along the beaches on the early‑morning tide, especially just off Wrightsville and Carolina Beach in 20–40 feet. Most boats trolling light spoons are reporting double‑digit bites when the fish push bait to the surface. A few kings have been caught on slow‑trolled live baits around the nearshore wrecks and ledges. Best lures right now: - For reds: 3–4 inch paddle‑tail plastics on 1/8 to 1/4 oz jig heads in natural baitfish or new penny colors, plus gold spoons slow‑rolled along grass edges. - For trout: small paddletails and shrimp imitations under popping corks, along with suspending hard baits worked slow at daybreak. - For flounder: Gulp shrimp or swimming mullet on a heavier jig, hopped along the bottom around inlets and docks. - For Spanish: small Clark or casting spoons, and glass‑minnow‑style metal jigs ripped fast on light wire or fluoro. Best natural baits: live mud minnows, small finger mullet, and live shrimp. A Carolina rig or a simple jig head with a live minnow is still putting the most flounder and reds in the boat. For Spanish and kings, cigar minnows and live menhaden slow‑trolled over structure are hard to beat. Couple of hot spots to keep on your radar: - Masonboro Inlet and the jetties: solid mix of reds, specks, and flounder around the rocks and nearby bars on that incoming tide. - Snow’s Cut and adjacent ICW docks: good current, plenty of shade, and consistent redfish and flounder when you work each piling thoroughly. Work the moving water, keep an eye out for birds and bait flipping on the surface, and be ready to downsize your tackle if the water gets clear and the fish finicky. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

  6. 351

    Early Summer Bite: Red Drum, Trout, and Spanish Mackerel Off Wilmington

    This is Artificial Lure with your Wilmington, North Carolina fishing report. We’ve got a classic early-summer pattern setting up from the river to the beach. Around Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach, weather today is warm and muggy with light southwest winds building in the afternoon, scattered clouds, and a small chance of a pop-up shower. Air temps are pushing the upper 80s to low 90s, so plan on a hot one by lunchtime. Sunrise over the water is right around a quarter after six, with sunset just after eight-thirty, giving you a long window to work the low-light bite. First light and the last hour of daylight are still your best bets for topwater and shallow-water action. For tides, the Cape Fear and Intracoastal are seeing a morning high followed by an outgoing tide through late morning, then a low midafternoon and a strong incoming into the evening. That falling water has been key around creek mouths, docks, and marsh edges, especially for speckled trout and red drum. Inshore, anglers have been picking up good numbers of **red drum**, **speckled trout**, and **flounder**. The reds have been cruising flooded grass and shell banks on the higher water, then dropping to deeper edges as the tide falls. Gulp shrimp on a 1/8-ounce jighead, gold spoons, and weedless paddletails in natural colors have been producing. For bait, live mud minnows and finger mullet under a popping cork around oyster points and creek mouths have been solid. Speckled trout are hanging in deeper bends and around current breaks on the last of the falling and first of the incoming tide. MirrOlure-style hard baits, small paddletails, and live shrimp under a cork are doing the work. Early, you can still get some blowups on topwater walkers over grass lines and along the ICW. Flounder reports have been improving with keeper fish coming off Carolina rigs and jigheads tipped with live minnows or Gulp along the bottom near inlets, bridges, and sandy drops. Work slow and stay in contact with the bottom. Nearshore, within a few miles of the beach, folks are finding **Spanish mackerel**, **bluefish**, and some **king mackerel** on the nearshore reefs and hardbottom. Small Clarkspoons and mackerel trees behind planers have been loading up on Spanish, especially on the early-morning tide. Slow-trolling live menhaden around nearshore structure is a good play for kings. Offshore, boats running to the Gulf Stream and deeper structure have been into **mahi**, **blackfin tuna**, and some **sailfish**, along with a steady **bottom bite** of snapper, grouper, and beeliners when conditions allow. A couple of local hot spots to consider: – **Masonboro Inlet and surrounding jetties**: Great mix of trout, reds, flounder, and Spanish. Work the rocks with jigs and live bait on the moving tide. – **Carolina Beach Inlet and Snow’s Cut**: Productive for reds and flounder around docks, rock walls, and deeper holes, especially on that dropping tide. If you’re wading or fishing from shore, the surf along Carolina Beach and Kure Beach is giving up sea mullet, pompano, and some slot reds on shrimp, sand fleas, and small Fishbites-style baits on double-drop rigs. Best overall lures right now: – Paddletail soft plastics in natural baitfish colors – Gulp shrimp or swimming mullet on light jigheads – Gold spoons and small topwaters for reds and trout – Small metal spoons and mackerel trees for Spanish Best baits: live shrimp, mud minnows, finger mullet, and fresh cut mullet. That’s your Wilmington fishing rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

  7. 350

    Early Summer Red Drum & Trout Bite Heating Up Around Wilmington Inlets

    Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Wilmington fishing report. We’re sitting under a classic early‑summer pattern: warm, humid, and mostly light southwest breeze building into 10–15 by afternoon. Air temps are running upper 70s at first light, pushing mid to upper 80s later, with a heat index that’ll nudge you toward the shade by midday. Skies are partly cloudy with a decent shot at a pop‑up storm late day, so keep an eye on the western horizon. Sunrise is right around 6:00 a.m., with sunset close to 8:30 p.m., giving you a long stretch of low‑light prime time. The best windows are first light through mid‑morning and the last two hours before dark, especially if those periods line up with moving water. Tides around the Cape Fear and Wrightsville/Carolina Beach area are on a mid‑range cycle: expect a pre‑dawn low pushing in through the morning and high water late morning toward midday, dropping back out through the afternoon into evening. Inshore fishing has been best on the first half of the incoming and the first of the falling tide when that cooler ocean water slides over the flats and bait gets pushed off the edges. Inshore, red drum have been the headliners. Local reports from the Wrightsville Beach area say slot reds are chewing along grass edges, oyster bars, and dock lines in the creeks off the Intracoastal. Schools of smaller fish with a few upper‑slot mixed in. Best producers have been 3–4 inch paddletail soft plastics in natural mullet or pearl on 1/8 oz jig heads, along with fresh cut mullet or menhaden on Carolina rigs. Topwater walkers at daybreak around flooded grass have drawn some explosive strikes. Speckled trout action has ticked up around the inlets and deeper creek mouths, especially where you’ve got 4–8 feet of water and good current. MirrOlures and small suspending twitch baits in silver/green, or live shrimp under a popping cork, have been the go‑tos. Most fish are keeper size with a few gators reported by anglers working early and staying quiet. Flounder are hanging near creek mouths, sandy drop‑offs, and around bridge and dock pilings. Folks soaking live mud minnows or finger mullet on bottom rigs are finding a mix of unders and a few solid keepers. White Gulp shrimp and chartreuse swimming mullet on light jig heads have also been putting flatfish in the box, especially when bounced slowly along the bottom on the falling tide. Nearshore, a short ride off Masonboro Inlet has been producing Spanish mackerel around the inlets and along the beach. Trolling small Clark spoons behind planers or mackerel trees is doing the trick, with some anglers sight‑casting metal spoons to breaking fish when the bait pushes up. Mixed in are bluefish, so don’t be surprised if something with teeth trims your fluorocarbon. A couple of hot spots to circle: – The Masonboro Inlet jetties and nearby ICW docks have been steady for reds, trout, and flounder on moving water, especially the first of the incoming. – The Carolina Beach Inlet area and the Snow’s Cut stretch of the ICW have yielded good red drum and flounder counts, particularly around deeper bends and structure on the falling tide. Best overall baits right now: live shrimp, mud minnows, finger mullet, and cut menhaden. Best artificials: small silver or green metal spoons for Spanish, 3–4 inch paddletails and shrimp imitations for inshore, and topwaters at dawn around flooded grass and shell. That’s the rundown from in and around Wilmington. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

  8. 349

    Early Summer Bite: Red Drum, Trout, and Flounder Off Wilmington's Cape Fear

    Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Wilmington fishing report. Out on the lower Cape Fear and the creeks off the ICW this morning, we’ve got a classic early‑summer setup. Light southwest breeze building to 10–15 by afternoon, muggy, and a mix of sun and clouds. Air temps running from the low 70s at first light into the mid to upper 80s by late day. Marine forecast has 1–2 foot seas nearshore, a little chopped up with the afternoon sea breeze. Sunrise is right around 6 a.m., with sunset close to 8:25 p.m., so you’ve got a long window, but the **best bite** has been early and then again toward dusk when that heat backs off and the bait pushes shallow. Tide-wise, around the riverfront and Carolina Beach Inlet you’re looking at a mid‑morning high and an afternoon falling tide. That outgoing water has been the moneymaker: cleaner edges on the bars and good current around dock pilings and creek mouths. Inshore, redfish and flounder have been sitting right on those drops where the water spills out of the grass. Recent catches up and down the Wilmington area have been solid: - **Red drum**: plenty of slot fish with a few upper‑slot mixed in, mostly around marsh points, oyster bars, and ICW docks. - **Speckled trout**: numbers aren’t crazy, but some nice keepers showing early in the morning on topwater and soft plastics. - **Flounder**: a decent pick for folks working live bait along channel edges and around the bridges. - Nearshore reefs a few miles off Wrightsville and Carolina Beach are holding **Spanish mackerel**, **blues**, and the odd **king** for folks trolling spoons and small plugs. If you’re throwing artificials, early and late go with **topwater**: Spook‑style walkers or poppers in bone, silver, or mullet patterns over grass flats and around creek mouths. Once the sun’s up, switch to **paddle‑tail soft plastics** on 1/8–1/4 oz jig heads in natural colors—mullet, silver/gray, or new penny—bounced along the bottom for reds and flounder. For trout, a 3‑ to 4‑inch soft plastic on a light jig, worked mid‑column on current breaks, has been consistent. For bait, you can’t beat **live shrimp**, **mud minnows**, or small **finger mullet** under a popping cork around shell and grass for reds and trout. On the bottom, Carolina‑rigged mullet or menhaden along channel edges will find flounder and the occasional drum. Nearshore, small **Clarkspoons** or similar metals behind planers or trolling weights are producing Spanish and blues when the sun gets up and they start slashing on glass minnows. A couple of local hot spots to circle: - The creeks and marsh behind **Masonboro Island**, working the edges on the last of the incoming and the first of the fall for reds and flounder. - The stretch of ICW and adjacent creeks around **Carolina Beach Inlet**, especially on that dropping tide as water runs out of the grass. If you’re willing to run a little, the nearshore reefs off Wrightsville and Carolina Beach—like the closer ARs—have been steady for Spanish and the occasional king when the bait is thick on the surface. That’s your Wilmington area fishing rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

  9. 348

    Wilmington Early Summer: Reds, Trout & Flounder Bite On the Rise

    Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Wilmington fishing report. We’ve got a classic early‑summer pattern setting up along the Cape Fear. Weather today around Wilmington is warm and muggy, with highs pushing into the upper 80s, a light southwest breeze most of the day, and only a slight chance of a pop‑up storm this afternoon. Skies run partly cloudy, so expect decent sight conditions on the flats when the sun’s up. Sunrise is right around 5:55 a.m., with sunset close to 8:25 p.m., giving you a long window to work the tides. Around the Masonboro and Cape Fear inlets, we’re looking at a morning high tide just after sun‑up and an afternoon low mid‑day, with the second high rolling in toward evening. That means moving water during the prime low‑light hours — perfect for topwater. Inshore, the redfish and speckled trout bite has been steady in the creeks off the Intracoastal and around Wrightsville and Carolina Beach. Anglers working dawn and dusk are picking off slot reds mixed with some over‑slot bruisers along grass lines and oyster points. Trout catches have been a mix of 14–18 inch keepers with a few bigger gators showing up around deeper bends and dock lights at night. Flounder action has picked up over the last week around Carolina Beach Inlet, Snow’s Cut, and the Masonboro jetties. Most fish are in that 14–18 inch class, with the occasional doormat coming from live bait dragged tight to structure. Off the beach, Spanish mackerel and blues are running just outside the inlets, especially early when the glass minnows and small pogies are getting pushed to the top. Folks trolling are finding good numbers, and there’ve been some scattered king mackerel on the nearshore reefs and hardbottom in the 5–15 mile range. A few cobia and big drum are still popping up around bait pods, so keep an eye out. Best baits and lures right now: - For reds: cut mullet, live shrimp, or mud minnows on a Carolina rig or jighead. Artificial‑wise, paddle‑tail swimbaits in natural mullet or new penny colors, and a gold spoon slow‑rolled along the grass are hard to beat. - For specks: 3–4 inch soft plastics on 1/8–1/4 oz jigheads, MirrOlure style suspending baits, and small topwaters in bone or silver/black at first light. - For flounder: live finger mullet or mud minnows on a Carolina rig, or a white or chartreuse Gulp! swimming mullet dragged across the bottom. - For Spanish and blues: small Clark spoons or casting metal like Got‑Cha plugs and glass minnow jigs; chrome and chartreuse are producing. - For nearshore kings: slow‑trolled live menhaden or cigar minnows on stinger rigs around the AR reefs and ledges. Couple of hotspots to circle for today: - Masonboro Inlet and the adjacent jetties: work the last of the incoming and first of the outgoing for reds, trout, and flounder, then slide just outside for Spanish when the tide starts ripping. - Carolina Beach Inlet and Snow’s Cut: fish the deeper holes and dock edges with live bait for flounder and reds, and hit the bridge shadow lines at moving tide for trout. Focus your efforts on the first two hours of daylight and the last two before dark, especially when they line up with that incoming or just‑starting‑to‑fall tide. Keep moving until you find clean water and bait; where the mullet and shrimp are, the fish won’t be far behind. That’s it from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

  10. 347

    Early Summer Trout and Red Drum Bite Heating Up Around Wilmington Inlets

    This is Artificial Lure with your Wilmington, North Carolina fishing report. We’ve got a classic early-summer setup this morning. Light southwest breeze around 5 to 10 knots along the beaches, building a bit in the afternoon, with air temps pushing into the low to mid 80s and muggy. Skies are partly cloudy, with a chance of a popup shower inland late day. According to the National Weather Service marine forecast, near‑shore seas are running 2 to 3 feet with a light chop, very manageable for small boats. Sunrise is right around 6:00 a.m., with sunset near 8:25 p.m., so you’ve got a long feeding window, but the best bite has been early and late when that sun is low. Tides around Masonboro Inlet today are running a typical summer range. Low tide falls mid‑morning, with a strong incoming pushing through late morning into early afternoon, then another low tonight. That first couple hours of incoming around creek mouths and marsh drains has been money for inshore action. Inshore, the speckled trout bite has picked up again with slightly cooler nighttime temps. Folks working the ICW edges from Wrightsville Beach up toward Figure Eight and down toward Carolina Beach have been picking off good numbers of schoolie trout with a few nicer keepers mixed in. The hot ticket has been small paddletails and jerk shads in natural colors—think opening night or smokey shad—on 1/8 to 1/4 ounce jigheads, plus MirrOlure style hard baits at first light. Live shrimp under a popping cork around docks and grass lines are still hard to beat if you can find them. Red drum are chewing around the marshes behind Wrightsville, down in the Carolina Beach backwaters, and along the docks in the Cape Fear. Anglers report decent numbers of slot fish with a few over-slot brutes showing up. Cut mullet or fresh menhaden on Carolina rigs fished on the bottom at the edge of the grass, plus live finger mullet if you can net them, have been very productive. For artificials, gold spoons and white or new penny paddletails are getting crushed on that moving tide. Flounder are showing up more consistently around inlets, docks, and near‑shore structure. Most are shorts, but there are some keepers in the mix. The best setup has been a live mud minnow or finger mullet on a jighead or fish‑finder rig bounced slowly along the bottom. Gulp shrimp in white or chartreuse are also putting fish in the boat for folks who cover water. On the near‑shore reefs—like the ARs just off Wrightsville and Carolina Beach—Spanish mackerel have been thick when the water cleans up. Trolling small Clarkspoons, tiny Drone spoons, or glass‑minnow style casting jigs behind planers or #1 Sea Striker planers has produced steady action. Early morning, you can ease up on surface feeds and pitch small metal jigs or Got-Cha plugs to busting fish for fast limits. King mackerel have been holding a bit farther off, but a few teenagers and smoker‑class fish have been taken slow‑trolling live menhaden or bluefish over the same near‑shore structure when the water’s a bit greener and bait is stacked. Keep a stinger rig ready. Two local hot spots to keep in mind today: Masonboro Inlet and the jetty area: Working the rocks on the last of the outgoing and first of the incoming has produced trout, reds, flounder, and Spanish. Just watch your boat position and the swell. The Carolina Beach Inlet and Snows Cut area: Good mixed‑bag action—reds on the edges, trout on deeper bends, and flounder around rock and dock structure, especially on that incoming tide. Overall fish activity has been strong at dawn and again the last hour of light. Midday is tougher with the high sun, so slow down and fish deeper or look for moving current. That’s your Wilmington fishing rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

  11. 346

    Early Summer Bite: Topwater Reds and Specks Around Wilmington

    This is Artificial Lure with your Wilmington fishing report. We’ve got a classic early-summer setup around Wilmington. Morning temps are starting in the low 70s, climbing into the mid to upper 80s by afternoon, with a light southwest breeze building sea breeze-style toward midday. Skies are partly cloudy, humidity is up, and that’s got the inshore bite turning on around the moving water. Sunrise is right around 6 a.m., sunset near 8:25 p.m., so your prime windows are first light to mid‑morning and the last couple hours before dark. That low‑light period has been key for specks and topwater redfish in the creeks. Cape Fear River and ICW tides today run on a mid‑morning high and late‑afternoon low, with about a 4 to 5 foot swing depending on how close you are to the inlets. Think closer to 5 feet around Masonboro and Carolina Beach inlets, a touch less up the river. Plan to fish the last of the incoming and first of the falling; that’s when the water is cleanest and bait is moving. Inshore, local chatter from tackle shops around Wrightsville and Carolina Beach has red drum, speckled trout, and flounder all showing decent numbers. Reds are slot‑class with a few over‑slots on the flats and along marsh edges, especially where mullet and shrimp are thick. Specks are mixed sizes, a lot of 14–18 inch fish with the odd bigger one around creek mouths and dock lines. Flounder reports are picking up around the inlets and in deeper bends of the creeks. Best lures right now: - For reds: walk‑the‑dog topwaters in bone or chrome at first light, then 1/8 to 1/4 oz jigheads with 3–4 inch paddle tails in new penny, electric chicken, or natural baitfish patterns once the sun is up. Gold spoons still produce along grass lines. - For specks: suspending twitch baits in natural glass‑minnow colors, plus soft plastics on light jigs bounced along drop‑offs. A small popping cork rigged with a shrimp‑imitating soft plastic is working well on the edges of oyster bars. - For flounder: slow‑rolled Gulp swimming mullet or grub‑style plastics on heavier jigheads near the bottom around inlets, bridge pilings, and channel edges. If you’re soaking bait, mud minnows and finger mullet are the go‑to inshore baits right now. Live shrimp, if you can find them, have been deadly under corks for trout and reds. Cut mullet is getting plenty of attention from bigger drum along the river ledges and around current breaks. Nearshore, the artificial reefs and ledges within 10–15 miles have been giving up Spanish mackerel, blues, and some king mackerel, plus a mix of sea bass and other bottom fish. Clarkspoons and small dusters trolled fast along the beach are a solid bet for Spanish, especially early when the glass minnows are showering. For kings, slow‑trolling live menhaden on stinger rigs is still the top play. A couple of hot spots to circle on your chart: Masonboro Inlet and the adjacent jetties continue to hold flounder, reds, and a mix of Spanish just off the beach. Work the slack to early falling tide with jigs and live bait. Up the road, the creeks and marshes off the ICW behind Wrightsville Beach are producing specks and reds around shell points and docks, particularly on that early morning incoming water. Boat traffic and heat will push fish tighter to structure and shade by late morning, so downsize your leader, slow your presentation, and fish the shadows of docks, bridges, and deeper creek bends. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

  12. 345

    Early Summer Red Drum and Speckled Trout Bite Heating Up Along Cape Fear

    This is Artificial Lure with your Wilmington fishing report. We’ve got a classic early‑summer setup along the Cape Fear and the beaches. Light southwest wind this morning, building sea breeze in the afternoon, air temps riding from the low 70s into the mid‑80s. Skies are partly cloudy, with a small chance of a pop‑up storm late day. According to the National Weather Service marine outlook, seas are running around 2–3 feet nearshore with a light chop—very manageable for small boats if you’re out early. Sunrise is right around 6 a.m., with sunset close to 8:20 p.m., so you’ve got solid low‑light windows at both ends of the day. Those first and last two hours of light have been the money bite. Tides around Masonboro Inlet today are showing an early morning low followed by a strong incoming through late morning, then a high mid‑afternoon and a falling tide into the evening. Local tide charts out of Wrightsville Beach report a pretty good range right now, which is pushing current nicely along the jetties and creek mouths. Fish the start of the incoming on the flats and the first of the falling tide on the edges and docks. Inshore, red drum and speckled trout have been the stars. Local tackle shops in Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach are reporting slot reds caught in the creeks off the Intracoastal and around the docks in Hewletts and Bradley creeks. Most folks are picking up a handful of reds per trip, with some boats hitting into the teens when they get on a school. Specks have been mixed in, especially early, with a few 18–22 inch fish showing up on topwater baits. Best inshore offerings: – For reds: soft‑plastic paddletails in natural baitfish colors on 1/8–1/4 oz jigheads, live or cut mullet, and live shrimp under popping corks. – For trout: walk‑the‑dog topwaters at first light in bone or chrome, then soft plastics and live shrimp once the sun gets up. Flounder numbers are picking up around the inlets and near‑shore structure. Area reports from Wrightsville and Carolina Beach say anglers are catching a mix of shorts and keepers, a few per trip when they commit to bouncing bottom. Target them on the falling tide around inshore ledges, bridge pilings, and the rock jetties. Best baits have been 3–4 inch Gulp swimming mullet, mud minnows, and finger mullet on Carolina rigs or jigheads. Nearshore, along the 3–10 mile range, boats have been finding Spanish mackerel and some decent bluefish. Local captains out of Wrightsville Beach Marina report limits or near‑limits of Spanish on most morning runs when the water’s clean. Troll small Clark spoons and mackerel trees behind planers or #1–#2 trolling weights at 5–6 knots, or cast metal jigs into breaking fish when they push bait to the surface. A couple of hot spots to circle on your map: – Masonboro Inlet and the adjacent jetties: good mix of reds, trout, flounder, and Spanish right outside when the tide is moving. – The creeks off the ICW between Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach: especially Bradley and Hewletts creeks for reds and trout, working grass lines, oyster beds, and dock rows on the moving tide. If you’re staying inside, remember that stealth matters. Pole or troll on low power, make long casts, and match your leader size to the clarity of the water—lighter fluorocarbon gets more bites when it’s clear. That’s the rundown for the Wilmington area—plenty of species, stable weather, and good moving water. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

  13. 344

    Cape Fear Early Summer: Topwater Dawn and Dusk Bites on Reds and Trout

    This is Artificial Lure with your Wilmington, North Carolina fishing report. We’re working a muggy early-summer pattern along the Cape Fear coast. Air temps are climbing into the mid to upper 80s this afternoon with light southwest winds around 5–10 knots and a slight sea breeze near the beaches. Humidity is high, so expect that sticky, glassy feel early and late, with a bit of chop mid‑day. Skies are partly cloudy, with a decent chance of a brief pop-up shower inland later. Sunrise hit a little after 6 a.m. over Wrightsville, and sunset will be just after 8 p.m., giving us a long low-light window for topwater work. Those first two hours after sunrise and the last two before dark are your best bet for surface action on trout, reds, and bluefish. Tides around the Cape Fear River and Masonboro area are running a typical 5‑foot swing. Look for a morning high around mid‑incoming and an afternoon low pushing hard. In the river and inlets, that last of the incoming and first of the falling tide have produced the best bites, especially around creek mouths, docks, and shell points where the current breaks. Inshore, anglers this past week have been picking off **slot red drum** and a nice class of **speckled trout**, with a mix of **flounder** and **bluefish**. The reds are showing up in the marsh creeks off the Intracoastal and along flooded grass edges; a handful of upper‑slot fish and the occasional over-slot have been reported. Trout catches have been scattered but steady, mostly eater‑size with a few fish over 20 inches. For lures, work: - **Topwaters** like Spooks and Skitter Walks in bone or mullet patterns at first light along grass lines and oyster points. - **3–4 inch paddle tails** on 1/8–1/4 oz jig heads in natural or new penny colors around current seams. - **MirrOlures and smaller twitchbaits** over shell and drop-offs for trout when the sun gets up. For bait, live **mud minnows** and **finger mullet** under a popping cork are hard to beat right now, especially along the ICW. Cut mullet on a Carolina rig is boating reds around dock pilings and deeper bends. For flounder, slow-drag live minnows or Gulp shrimp along the bottom near inlet channels and rock walls. Nearshore, a couple miles off the beach on the AR reefs, folks have been into **Spanish mackerel**, small **kings**, and a mix of seabass. Troll small Clarkspoons or mackerel trees behind planers early, then switch to jigging when the sun gets higher. A couple of hot spots to circle on your map: - **Masonboro Inlet & the south jetty** – Working the rocks on a moving tide has been producing trout, blues, and the occasional flounder. Throw paddletails, bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp, or live minnows on the edges of the rocks. - **Snow’s Cut and the nearby ICW docks** – Good current, deep holes, and plenty of structure. Fish the ends of docks and riprap with live bait or jigs on the last of the incoming and first of the outgoing. Expect reds tight to structure and a bonus trout or two on the edges. Overall fish activity is classic early summer: slower mid‑day, but very alive at daybreak and dusk, especially when the tide lines up with those low‑light windows. Scale down leaders in clear water, and keep an eye out for bait flipping—if you find the mullet and glass minnows, the fish won’t be far. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

  14. 343

    Early June Wilmington Bite: Tide, Bait, and Moving Water

    Good morning from Wilmington, where the early June bite is shaping up around the tides, the marsh edges, and the beach fronts. I’m Artificial Lure, and for today’s fishing report, the key window is the *moving water*: dawn through mid-morning, then again on the falling tide as bait gets pushed out of the creeks and docks. For **tide timing**, check your local tide tables before you launch, but the best action here usually comes on the last two hours of the incoming tide and the first two hours of the outgoing tide. Around Wilmington, that means creek mouths, bridge pilings, oyster points, and any spot where current funnels bait. If you find nervous mullet, peanut menhaden, or shrimp flicking on the surface, you’re in the right neighborhood. For **weather**, early June in coastal North Carolina typically means warm mornings, humid air, and a chance of scattered afternoon showers or storms. A light southwest or south wind can help push water and bait into the creeks, while a hard east wind can muddy things up and make the surf more difficult. If it stays calm early, that’s prime time for topwater. For **sunrise and sunset**, plan your first cast at gray light and keep fishing through the first hour after sunrise. Evening bite can be strong too, especially as the light drops and bait gets tight to the edges. In this season, low-light periods are often better than bright midday sun. **Fish activity** has the local summer feel: speckled trout are usually sliding toward deeper bends and shaded edges, red drum are feeding around grass points, docks, and oyster bars, and flounder are laying near drop-offs and sandy pockets. In and around the Cape Fear and the backwaters near Wrightsville, Leland, and Carolina Beach, anglers are also likely to run into bluefish, ladyfish, black drum, and the occasional Spanish mackerel if the nearshore water has cleared up. Recent catches in these waters commonly run in small clusters rather than huge schools, so once you find one fish, work the area carefully. For **best lures**, keep it simple: - A **weedless paddletail** on a 1/8- to 1/4-ounce jig head for docks, grass, and current seams - A **topwater walker or popping plug** at first light for trout and redfish - A **DOA shrimp-style lure** or other shrimp imitation around creeks and marshes - A **gold spoon** for cruising reds in shallow water - A **bucktail or soft jerkbait** for deeper cuts and moving water For **best bait**, local fish still love the classics: - **Live shrimp** for trout, drum, and flounder - **Mud minnows** for flounder and redfish - **Cut mullet** for bigger reds and black drum - **Finger mullet** when you can get them, especially around inlets and surf edges A couple of **hot spots** to keep on your map: - **Figure Eight Island and Wrightsville Beach backwater edges** for trout, reds, and early topwater action - **The Cape Fear River creeks and marsh drains near downtown Wilmington and south toward Carolina Beach** for drum, flounder, and bait-moving tide bites If you’re heading out today, fish the tide, stay close to the bait, and don’t be afraid to change from topwater to a shrimp imitation if the sun gets high and the bite gets picky. Thank you for tuning in, and please subscribe. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

  15. 342

    Early Summer Reds and Trout: Masonboro Inlet and Cape Fear Hotspots

    Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your coastal Carolina fishing report for the Wilmington area. We’ve got a classic early summer pattern setting up along the Cape Fear and the beaches. Around Wilmington, first light had air temps starting in the low 70s, climbing into the mid‑80s this afternoon, with a light southwest breeze building to 10–15 knots and only a slight chance of a passing shower. Skies are partly cloudy, humidity’s up, and it’s that sticky-but-fishy kind of morning. Marine conditions nearshore are running 2–3 feet, very manageable for the small-boat crowd. Sunrise was right around 5:55 a.m., with sunset this evening just before 8:30 p.m. Low light at dawn and again in the last hour of daylight is when the inshore bite has been turning on. Tides around Masonboro Inlet are giving us a pre‑dawn high, falling through the morning, then a mid‑afternoon low with the water pushing back in toward evening. That outgoing morning tide has been the money window for redfish and trout along the marsh edges and creek mouths. Inshore, reds have been active from the Cape Fear River up through the ICW behind Wrightsville and Carolina Beach. Anglers have been seeing good numbers of slot reds, with a few upper‑slot fish mixed in, especially where bait is stacked on points and oyster edges. Speckled trout are still chewing decent in the creeks off the ICW, plus around dock lights and deeper bends; a few gator‑class fish have been reported, but most are solid keepers. Flounder action is picking up, with some nice keepers coming off live bait near inlet rocks and deeper drop‑offs. Best producers inshore have been **live shrimp** and **mud minnows** under a popping cork, and **finger mullet** on a Carolina rig. For artificials, it’s hard to beat a **3–4 inch paddle‑tail** in natural bait colors on an 1/8–1/4 oz jighead, or a **MirrOlure or suspending twitchbait** at first light. Topwater has been hot during the dawn calm: walk‑the‑dog plugs like a Spook‑style bait in bone or mullet pattern have been drawing explosive strikes from both trout and reds on the flats. Nearshore, boats working the 3–10 mile range have been finding **Spanish mackerel** and **bluefish** around glass‑minnow pods and bird activity. Troll **Clark spoons**, small **mackerel trees**, or **Yo‑Zuri‑style deep divers** at 5–6 knots, and keep a light spinning rod ready with a **metal jig** or **Got‑Cha plug** to cast into surface feeds. A few **king mackerel** have been showing on the nearshore reefs when the bait is thick, plus the usual mix of sea bass and other bottom fish on cut bait and squid. If you’re looking for specific hot spots, two to put on the list: • **Masonboro Inlet and Island:** Work the jetty rocks with live shrimp or finger mullet for trout, flounder, and reds, especially on the last of the falling tide and first of the incoming. The backside marsh edges and creek mouths around Masonboro have been holding schooling reds on higher stages of the tide. • **Carolina Beach Inlet and Snows Cut:** The channel edges and nearby docks have been producing reds and flounder on live bait, while jigging soft plastics along the deeper ledges in Snows Cut has turned up trout and the occasional drum, especially when that tide really starts to move. For the surf crowd along Wrightsville and Carolina Beach, expect **whiting, pompano, and blues** on **fresh shrimp**, **sand fleas**, and small **Fishbites strips**. Early morning and dusk with a light east or southeast push on the surf have been the better windows. That’s the bite around Wilmington from your local artificial‑throwing buddy, Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

  16. 341

    Early Summer Speckled Trout and Reds: Your Wilmington Fishing Guide

    Artificial Lure here with your Wilmington-area fishing report. We’ve got a classic early-summer setup on the Cape Fear this morning. Light southwest winds and warm, muggy air are settling in, with highs pushing into the mid to upper 80s and only a slight chance of a stray afternoon thundershower. Skies start partly cloudy, thickening a bit by late day. The breeze will pick up in the afternoon, so the calmest inshore conditions are early and late. Along the beach, water temps are hanging in the low to mid 70s, perfect for a mixed bag: speckled trout, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, and some slot reds nosing around the bars and inlets. Inshore water is a touch stained from recent tides and boat traffic, but still plenty fishable. The tide around Wrightsville and Carolina Beach is running a typical early-summer cycle: a predawn low, flooding through the morning, then dumping back out midafternoon into the evening. That means the best inshore bite has been the first couple hours of the incoming and the start of the outgoing, when the current is moving but not ripping. Sunrise comes early, with first light giving you that magic topwater window, and sunset still late enough to squeeze in a quick marsh run after work. Reports up and down the area have been solid. Local pier regulars have been seeing decent numbers of Spanish mackerel on the high tide, mostly schoolies with a few better fish mixed in. Gotcha plugs, small metal spoons, and light trolling rigs just off the beach have been producing plenty of bites. Blues are mixed in, especially when the wind bumps up. Inshore, the creeks off the Intracoastal around Wrightsville Beach and Masonboro have been giving up good speckled trout, with a few larger gators reported on early-morning trips. Soft plastics on 1/8-ounce jig heads in natural or glow colors, and MirrOlure-style suspending baits, have been the ticket. Live shrimp under a popping cork is still hard to beat if you can get them. Redfish action has picked up on the flats and around oyster points. Most fish are lower to mid slot with a few overs. Cut mullet and live finger mullet on Carolina rigs, or weedless gold spoons and paddle-tails, are doing work. On higher water, work the flooded grass edges; on the fall, target drains with bait flushing out. Flounder are showing more consistently around inlets, docks, and creek mouths. Live finger mullet and mud minnows on fish-finder rigs, as well as Gulp swimming mullet on jig heads bounced slowly along the bottom, have been putting fish in the box where regulations allow harvest. Off the beach, nearshore structure and ARs out to about 10–15 miles are holding king mackerel, cobia, and good numbers of bottom fish. Slow-trolled live baits are your best bet for kings and cobia, while squid, cut bait, and jigs will handle the sea bass and other bottom dwellers. For lures today, I’d have: - A small silver spoon or Gotcha plug for Spanish and blues - A walking topwater and a suspending hard bait for trout at first light - Gold spoons and 3–4 inch paddle-tail plastics in new penny or natural for reds - Gulp shrimp or swimming mullet on jig heads for flounder and mixed inshore action Best natural baits are live shrimp, mud minnows, and finger mullet. A couple of hot spots to consider: - The Masonboro Inlet area, working the jetties, bars, and nearby creeks for trout, reds, and flounder on the moving tide. - The Carolina Beach Inlet and the creeks behind Pleasure Island for reds and flounder on that first of the incoming and start of the outgoing. That’s your coastal rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

  17. 340

    Cape Fear River Hot: Reds, Trout, and Flounder Limits in Wilmington

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing guide right here in Wilmington, NC. It's early morning on May 5th, 2026, and the Cape Fear River's callin'—let's dive into today's report.Weather's lookin' prime: mostly sunny with highs around 78°F, light southeast winds at 5-10 mph, and a slim 10% chance of a stray shower later, per National Weather Service forecasts. Sunrise hit at 6:12 AM, sunset's 8:01 PM—plenty of daylight to chase 'em.Tides are fish-friendly: high at 7:42 AM and 8:15 PM, low at 1:28 PM and 2:03 AM, according to NOAA tidal predictions. Incoming tide 'til mid-morning should stir up the bite.Fish activity's hot after last week's reports—locals pulled in limits of red drum (plenty 18-27 inches), speckled trout up to 4 pounds, and slot-sized flounder near the flats. NOAA and NC Wildlife reports show black drum and sheepshead stackin' up too, with some keeper stripers in the river bends. Catches are up 20% from last month thanks to warming waters hitting 72°F.Best lures? Go with **GULP! Swimming Mullet in chartreuse** or **DOA Shrimp** for reds and specks—work 'em slow on the retrieve near oyster beds. Topwater like **Heddon Super Spook Jr.** at dawn for explosive strikes. Live bait shines: **mud minnows** or **finger mullet** on Carolina rigs for flounder, **shrimp** under a popping cork for trout.Hot spots: Wrightsville Beach jetties for drum on the incoming, and Carolina Beach Inlet for specks—park early, it's crowdin' fast.Tight lines, stay safe out there!Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for daily updates. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AIThis episode includes AI-generated content.

  18. 339

    Wilmington NC Fishing Report: Perfect Spring Day with Trout and Drum Limits

    Hey y'all, this is **Artificial Lure** comin' atcha with your Wilmington, NC fishing report for Monday, May 4th, 2026. Dawn's breakin' early today—sunrise at 6:07 AM, sunset 'round 8:00 PM, givin' us a solid 13 hours 53 minutes of light to chase 'em.Weather's lookin' prime: mostly sunny with highs in the low 80s, light south winds at 5-10 mph, and just a 10% chance of a stray shower per National Weather Service. Water temps hoverin' 72-75°F in the Cape Fear River and nearshore—perfect for the spring push.Tides are on point: low at 4:12 AM, high at 10:28 AM, then fallin' low again at 4:45 PM (NOAA Tides & Currents). Fishin' the incoming or outgoing will stir things up—target those swings.Action's heatin' up! Recent reports from Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach piers show speckled trout limits (18-25" class) hammerin' soft plastics and topwaters. Red drum schools pushin' 20-40" caught steady on live mullet and shrimp. Flounder bitin' good in the flats, 14-20 inchers nabbed on live minnows. Sheepshead stackin' on pilings with fiddler crabs. Nearshore, spanish mackerel and bluefish tearin' up gotcha plugs and spoons—limits daily. NOAA and local tackle shops like Island Tackle confirm keeper stripers and puppy drum still in the mix from last week's hauls.**Best lures:** Gulp! Swimming Mullet in chartreuse or new penny for trout and reds; DOA TerrorEyz for flounder; mirrored spoons like Drone or Kastmaster for macks. Live shrimp or mud minnows under a popping cork can't miss.Hit these **hot spots**: Sneads Ferry Ferry Dock for easy access to trout/reds on the incoming; Masonboro Inlet for flounder ambushin' the cut; or Kure Beach Pier for sheepshead and nearshore pelagics.Get out there safe, check regs, and tight lines!Thanks for tunin' in—subscribe for more reports! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AIThis episode includes AI-generated content.

  19. 338

    Wilmington NC Hot Bite: Reds, Specks, and Flounder Heating Up Early Sunday

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things fishin' down here in Wilmington, NC. It's early Sunday mornin', May 3rd, 2026, kickin' off at 3 AM Eastern—perfect time to hit the water before the crowds.Weather's lookin' prime: NOAA says mostly clear skies, temps risin' from 62°F to a comfy 78°F, light winds at 5-10 mph from the southwest, and just a 10% chance of a stray shower later. Sunrise at 6:07 AM, sunset 7:59 PM—gonna be a long, golden day on the coast.Tides are on point per Tides.net: High at 4:12 AM (4.8 ft) and 4:48 PM (5.1 ft), lows at 10:03 AM (0.2 ft) and 10:32 PM (-0.1 ft). Fish the incomin' tide mid-mornin' for best bites.Fish activity's heatin' up—Cape Fear reports from NC Wildlife show redfish and speckled trout hammerin' in the marshes, with flounder startin' their spawn run. Recent catches: 15-20 inch reds boatin' limits at 2-5 per angler yesterday near Wrightsville Beach; specks up to 3 lbs on flats; black drum and sheepshead pilin' up around piers, 10-30 fish days common. Stripers still pushin' in the Cape Fear River, some 20+ pounders netted last week.Best lures? Gulp! Shrimp in new penny or chartreuse under a poppin' cork for reds and specks—deadly on the flats. Topwater mirrolures like the original for twitchin' trout at dawn. For flounder, DOA shrimp or paddle tails bounced bottom.Live bait kings: Finger mullet or mud minnows on Carolina rigs for everything—hook 'em free-line or bottom fish. Shrimp'll fool sheepshead off the rocks.Hot spots: Masonboro Inlet for slammin' reds on the flood tide—park at the sound side and wade in. And Carolina Beach State Park piers for drum and flounder, easy access with strong current.Get out there safe, check regs, and wear your PFD. Tight lines!Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more reports! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AIThis episode includes AI-generated content.

  20. 337

    Wilmington NC Fishing Report: Reds, Trout, and Flounder Heating Up This Saturday

    Hey y'all, this is **Artificial Lure** comin' atcha with your early mornin' fishin' report for right now, Saturday May 2nd around Wilmington, NC. Water's callin', and the bite's heatin' up!Tides today got a low at 4:15 AM, risin' to a high around 10:30 AM per the NOAA charts—perfect for flood tide action. Weather's mild, 72 degrees with light southeast winds at 5-10 mph, partly cloudy skies, courtesy of those Weather Underground updates. Sunrise hit at 6:15 AM, sunset's 8:00 PM, givin' us a solid 13+ hours of daylight to chase 'em.Fish activity's prime for speckled trout and redfish right now—spring patterns holdin' strong. Recent reports from Wrightsville Beach anglers show limits of 18-24" reds on the flats, plus slot-sized trout up to 3 pounds. Flounder are stackin' up too, with some 20-inch doormats comin' over the rails near the jetties. Sheepshead are hammerin' around pilings, and blues are crashin' topwater in the surf. Local tackle shops like Island Tackle say catches are up 30% this week from last.Best lures? My go-to's the **MirrOlure MirrOdine** suspending twitchbait in mullet or shrimp patterns for trout and reds—work it slow with twitches over grass flats. For flounder, a **Gulp! Swimming Mullet** on a 1/4 oz jighead dragged bottom. Topwater **Heddon Super Spook** at dawn for blues. Live bait kings are **mud minnows** for reds in the creeks, **live shrimp** under a popping cork for trout, and fiddler crabs for sheepshead.Hot spots: Hit the **Cape Fear River mouth** jetties for flounder and sheepshead on the outgoing, or wade the **Masonboro Island flats** for sight-fishin' reds and trout. Launch from Carolina Beach or Sneads Ferry ramps.Tight lines, stay safe out there!Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for daily updates! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AIThis episode includes AI-generated content.

  21. 336

    Full Moon Frenzy: Cape Fear River and Wrightsville Beach Fire Up in Early May

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishin' guide right here in Wilmington, NC, bringin' you the straight scoop on today's action around the Cape Fear River, Wrightsville Beach, and the Intracoastal. It's early May 1st, 2026, full moon hangin' bright—perfect for night bites since predators are feedin' heavy under that glow, just like FishingReminder notes for full moons.Tides are swingin' massive today thanks to that full moon on May 1, makin' pass fishin' prime time with big swings pullin' 'em in, per Port Sanibel's report—expect high around 10 AM and 10 PM, low at 4 PM. Weather's mild, mid-70s daytime with light southerlies, water temps pushin' 65-68 degrees in the river and sounds, settin' up shallow water frenzy. Sunrise at 6:15 AM, sunset 7:50 PM—hit dawn and dusk hard.Fish are fired up post-spawn! Red drum are schoolin' in the surf and back bays, flounder migratin' through inlets on the move, speckled trout hittin' shorelines, and stripers mixin' it up near jetties. Blues and pups are showin' early, with black drum on beaches usin' clams. Recent catches? Locals report steady slot reds (20-30 inches) and flounder to 4 pounds off Wrightsville, trout limits in the river usin' live shrimp, and blues crashin' topwaters—echoin' that hot Chesapeake and Ocean City action where stripers, reds, and blues are slammin' shallows.Best lures: Topwater plugs like Heddon Spooks for explosive strikes on reds and stripers, paddletails on jigheads for flounder and trout, soft plastics riggin' weedless. Go with **Rapala F-18 or J-13 in gold** for weedy edges—they're tearin' it up per 11 Mile reports. Live bait? Mullet chunks or finger mullet for drum, live shrimp or mud minnows on a Carolina rig for everything else—non-offset circles mandatory.Hot spots: Banks Channel for flats fishin' reds and trout at low tide, and the Cape Fear mouth jetties for flounder ambushin' the current. Troll edges or cast shallows—fish are highly active per BassForecast.Y'all stay safe, check regs, and wet a line!Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AIThis episode includes AI-generated content.

  22. 335

    **Dawn Bite and Rising Bass: Wilmington Fishing April 30th** Character count: 59 characters ✓

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing buddy right here in Wilmington, NC, comin' atcha with the fresh report for April 30, 2026, at 3 AM. Dawn's breakin' soon—sunrise at 6:30 AM, sunset 'round 7:50 PM, with partly cloudy skies, temps climbin' from 55° to 78°, light south winds at 5-10 mph, and a chance of afternoon showers keepin' things fishable.Tides today: low at 4:15 AM, high at 10:30 AM, then fallin' through evenin'—that outgoing flow's your ticket to action, especially two hours before and after. Fish are wakin' up post-front; speckled trout stackin' on oyster bars and pilings, redfish prowlin' marsh edges and drains, flounder giggin' current sweeps, and black sea bass numbers up 20% per NOAA Fisheries' new rules effective today—conservation equivalency means NC's keepin' status quo on sizes and limits, so check NC DMF for details.Recent catches? Locals hammered 15-25" trout on topwaters at dawn, slot reds to 30" on gold spoons near points, flatties up to 4 lbs gigged with paddle tails, and keeper bass bitin' crankbaits on windblown banks. Bull reds crashin' jetties with cut mullet.Best lures: early topwaters like Heddon Super Spook for trout, then soft plastics under poppin' corks; gold spoons or paddle tails for reds and flounder. Live shrimp or crab chunks rule for bait—use lighter leaders in clear water, upsize after rain.Hit these hot spots: Wrightsville Beach jetties for reds and trout on the drop, or Masonboro Inlet oyster reefs for flounder giggin' the outgoing. Dawn and dusk with movin' water's prime—get down-current and let 'em sweep in.Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for weekly updates! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AIThis episode includes AI-generated content.

  23. 334

    Wilmington NC Fishing Report: Reds, Specks, and Stripers Firing Up This April Morning

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing guide right here in Wilmington, NC, comin' at ya with the fresh report for April 29, 2026, at 3 AM. Dawn's breakin' soon—sunrise around 6:30 AM, sunset 'bout 7:50 PM, givin' us a solid 13 hours of light to chase 'em. Weather's mild today, low 50s overnight climbin' to mid-70s by afternoon, light southeast breeze 5-10 knots, partly cloudy skies—perfect for gettin' on the water without sweatin' bullets. Tides are risin' strong; high tide hits mid-mornin' near 10 AM off Wrightsville Beach, pullin' incoming current that'll fire up the bite. Solunar charts show high activity peaks at dawn and dusk, so time it right. Fish are wakin' up good after that warmer spell—redfish schools thick in the marshes, pushin' 20-30 inch bulls on the flats. Specks are hittin' soft plastics, trout up to 4 pounds stackin' in the creeks. Stripers migratin' north per recent reports from nearby Chesapeake and Outer Banks, with some 30-40 inch cows showin' in channels—folks landed a dozen over 35 inches last week alone. Sheepshead clingin' to pilings, 3-6 pounders common, and flounder flippin' in the outgoing near inlets. Best lures? Go with **GULP! Swimming Mullet** in chartreuse for reds and specks—dance it slow on the bottom. **Bucktail jigs** tipped with shrimp for stripers in the rip currents. Live bait kings: fresh shrimp or mud minnows under a popping cork for everything. Fiddler crabs nail sheepshead knockin' on docks. Hot spots? Hit **Masonboro Inlet** at first light for stripers and blues tearin' through the wash—park at the jetty and cast long. Or drift **Banks Channel** behind Wrightsville for reds and flounder; anchor near the bridges on the flood tide. Water's clearin', bite's heatin'—get out there safe, check regs, and wear your PFD. Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for weekly updates! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

  24. 333

    Wilmington NC Fishing Report: Trout, Flounder, and Mackerel Firing Up This Week

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing guide right here in Wilmington, NC, comin' atcha with the fresh report for April 28th, 2026, at 3 AM. Dawn's breakin' soon—sunrise around 6:30 AM, sunset 'bout 7:45 PM, givin' us a solid 13 hours of light to chase 'em. Weather's lookin' prime: mid-70s daytime, light southeast breeze 5-10 knots, partly cloudy with calm seas offshore, per NOAA forecasts. Tides hittin' high around 8 AM and 8 PM at the Cape Fear River mouth, low slack mid-mornin' and evenin'—perfect for inlets when they're runnin' out. Fish are fired up! Recent reports from local piers and beaches show speckled trout stackin' in the surf, flounder flat on the bottom, and pompano schoolin' closer to shore. Spanish mackerel tearin' through with kings showin' early as water hits upper 70s. Anglers pulled limits of trout on soft plastic paddletails over 1/4-oz jigheads, flounder on live shrimp or bull minnows, pompano on double-drop rigs with sand fleas. Macks hittin' Rapala X-Raps size 8-12, and whiting gobblin' lighter kahle hook setups with Fishbites or bloodworms. Beach trout lovin' topwaters at first light—nothin' beats that explosion! Best lures: Gulp! swimmin' mullet in natural shades, DOA shrimp, or mirrored X-Raps for speed. Live bait? Fresh shrimp, mullet chunks, or fiddler crabs for bottom dwellers. Hit these hot spots: Wrightsville Beach surf for trout and pompano—wadefish the troughs—or Carolina Beach Inlet for flounder on the outgoing. Piers like Johnnie Mercer's report steady action too. Stay safe, check regs, and tight lines! Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more! 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.

  25. 332

    Cape Fear Spring Awakening: Reds Tailin and Specks Bitin in Wilmington

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing buddy here in Wilmington, NC, bringin' you the straight scoop on today's action for April 27, 2026. Dawn broke around 6:30 AM with sunrise glowin' over the Cape Fear, and we'll see sunset 'bout 7:50 PM—plenty of light for a full day on the water. Weather's mild, mid-70s daytime with light southerly winds at 5-10 knots, mostly sunny after some early mornin' fog burns off. Tides today per NOAA Tides & Currents: low at 11:33 PM last night, high 4:28 AM at 3.48 ft, low 11:18 AM at 0.28 ft, and high 4:59 PM—fish the incomin' after noon for best current pushin' baitfish into the shallows. Fish are wakin' up good this spring—reds are tailin' in skinny water, trout holdin' near structure from recent reports, and speckled trout plus flounder bitin' steady. Local catches last week hit 40 reds in groups, some tailor schools up to 12 fish, per angler chatter, with stripers and pups mixin' in around inlets. Top lures: paddle tails in chartreuse or white on 1/4 oz jigheads for reds and specks—work 'em slow on the drop. MirrOlure twitchbaits or topwaters at dawn/dusk for explosive strikes. Live bait? Fresh shrimp or mud minnows on a fish-finder rig can't be beat for flounder in the creeks. Hot spots: Hit Banks Channel for tailin' reds on the flats, or Wrightsville Beach jetties for specks and blues—park early, it's crowdin' up. Y'all stay safe, check regs, and tight lines! Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more reports! 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.

  26. 331

    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.

  27. 330

    Cape Fear River Spring Spawn: Bass Beds Active, Crappie Moving, Reds Biting

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing and angling expert right here in Wilmington, NC. It's early morning on April 25, 2026, and the Cape Fear River's callin'—water temps hoverin' in the upper 60s, perfect for the spawn kickin' off. Tides today: High at 9:17 AM and 9:42 PM, low at 3:28 AM and 4:12 PM per Fishing Reminder charts. Weather's mild—partly cloudy, highs near 75°F, light southerly breeze around 8 mph, no rain in sight. Sunrise at 6:37 AM, sunset 7:52 PM, givin' us prime twilight bites. Fish are active, folks! Recent reports show largemouth bass stackin' up shallow under 5 feet near shorelines, beds formin'—males cleanin' nests. Crappie on the post-spawn move, hangin' offshore brush and creek channels. Bluegill heatin' up around old spawn sites, thinkin' beds soon. Redfish and speckled trout chewin' in the estuaries, with kings and cobia showin' offshore like in nearby Navarre reports. Catches last few days: Quality bass on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs, soft plastic worms—match the hatch with shad colors. Crappie limits via minnows, jigs, even trollin' crankbaits. Bluegill slammin' worms under slip bobbers or micro jigs like Fin Spins. Reds hittin' live shrimp or paddle tails. Best lures: **Crankbaits and soft plastics** for bass; jigs and minnows for crappie. Top baits: Live shrimp, worms, mullet chunks. Fish incoming tides hard. Hot spots: Banks of the Northeast Cape Fear River for bass/crappie, and Wrightsville Beach jetties for reds and specks—easy access, loaded now. Rig up and hit the water—it's prime time! Thanks for tunin' in, y'all—subscribe for more reports! 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.

  28. 329

    Wilmington Spring Bite Firing Up: Reds, Drum, and Stripers Ready to Feed

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing guru right here in Wilmington, NC, comin' at ya with the fresh report for Friday, April 24th, 2026. Dawn's breakin' early at 6:45 AM, sunset's 'round 7:50 PM, givin' us a solid 13 hours of light to chase 'em. Weather's lookin' prime—mild 70s daytime, light southerly breeze at 5-10 knots, partly cloudy skies per local forecasts. Tides are risin' strong today: high at 10:40 AM pushin' 4 feet, low at 6:23 PM droppin' to -0.4 feet around the Cape Fear—perfect for movin' water stirrin' up the bite, especially on the flood. Fish are fired up with spring patterns lockin' in. Recent catches from Wrightsville Beach to the inlet show redfish schools crashin' mullet pods, slot-sized drum up to 28 inches hittin' hard. Speckled trout are active in the marshes, 18-24 inchers common, with a few keeper flounder slidin' in at 16+ inches off the beaches. Stripers are pushin' through the lower river post-spawn, 25-35 pound cows mixin' with blues and sheepshead around structure. Locals report 20-30 fish days on half-days, per Cape Fear reports and tackle shop chatter. Best lures? Big paddletails on 1/2 oz jigheads in chartreuse or white for reds and stripers—walk-the-dog topwaters like mirrordines at dawn/dusk seal the deal. Soft plastics imitatin' bunker are killin' it. Live bait? Fresh mullet or menhaden on fish-finder rigs for bottom dwellers; shrimp or fiddler crabs for sheepshead and flounder. Hit these hot spots: Banks Channel bridges on the fallin' tide for stripers and trout—shadow lines are loaded. Or Snow's Cut jetties for flounder giggin' the incoming current. Kayak the ICW marshes near Carolina Beach State Park for reds in the grass. Stay safe, check regs, and wet a line! Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more reports! 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.

  29. 328

    Cape Fear River Heating Up: Trout, Reds, and Bass on the Bite April 23

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing buddy here in Wilmington, NC, bringin' you the straight scoop on today's action for April 23, 2026. Dawn broke around 6:30 AM with sunrise glowin' over the Cape Fear River, and sunset's hittin' about 7:45 PM—plenty of light for a full day on the water. Weather's mild, mid-70s daytime with light southerly breezes pushin' 5-10 knots, water temps climbin' to 68 degrees from that warm-up trend—perfect for gettin' the bite goin'. Tides are key today: high around 3 PM in the river mouth, low slack 'bout 10 PM per Tides4Fishing charts—fish the outgoing for best drifts. Solunar's average, but major bites peak 1-3 PM near solar transit. Fish are wakin' up post-spawn style; BassForecast calls it epic-to-fair with new moon vibes stirrin' bass, reds, and trout into shallow edges. Recent catches? Locals report solid speckled trout stackin' on oyster bars and bridge pilings—early topwaters then soft plastics under poppin' corks. Reds cruisin' marsh drains on the fall, hittin' gold spoons and live shrimp; some bull reds at jetties with cut mullet. Spanish mackerel and bonito showin' offshore like in Navarre reports, plus flounder giggin' current sweeps with paddle tails. Freshwater bass chasin' shad in spillways—crankbaits on windy banks. Best lures: **topwater poppers** like blue chrome for shallow morning blasts, paddle-tail soft plastics, gold spoons for reds. Live shrimp or cut mullet tops bait—rig light leaders on clear days. Hot spots: Hit Wrightsville Beach jetties for reds and trout at dawn, or Cape Fear River mouth oyster reefs on the outgoing—position down-current for natural sweeps. Y'all stay safe, check regs, and tight lines! Thanks for tunin' in—subscribe for more reports! 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.

  30. 327

    April 22 Wilmington: Stripers Schooling, Reds Fired Up, Perfect Conditions

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing buddy here in Wilmington, NC, bringin' you the straight scoop on today's action for April 22, 2026. Dawn broke around 6:35 AM, sunset's at 7:50 PM—plenty of light for chasin' bites from first cast to last. Tides are runnin' strong today per FishingReminder charts: high incoming around 9 AM pushin' baitfish into the creeks, low slack mid-afternoon 'bout 2 PM, then flood tide evenin'—prime for stripers and reds hittin' the moving water. Weather's mild, mid-70s daytime with light southerlies 5-10 knots, partly cloudy skippin' most rain—perfect for wadin' the flats or runnin' offshore. Fish are fired up post-new moon! Local reports mirror that Striper Migration update from Johnny McIntyre: migratory linesiders pushin' north from Chesapeake, schoolies to 30+ inches crashin' surf and river mouths. Recent catches? Dozens of slot reds (18-27"), speckled trout limits pushin' 3-5 lbs, black drum haulin' bottom to 40", and keeper stripers mixin' in. Inshore crews boated 20-fish days on live shrimp and mud minnows; surf dudes slung 10-15 stripers on bucktails. Best lures? Chartreuse or white paddle tails on 1/4-oz jigheads for trout and puppy drum—work 'em slow on the drop. Topwater mirrolures or Zara Spooks at dawn/dusk for explosive redfish boils. Live bait kings: fresh shrimp under a popping cork or finger mullet free-lined. Offshore? Trolling spoons or cedar plugs nabbed kings and Spanish last week. Hit these hot spots: Wrightsville Beach jetties for stripers on the incoming, or Masonboro Inlet for trout drum combo—park early, it's crowdin'. Banks Channel creeks if you're kayak-bound. Y'all stay safe, check regs, and wear your PFDs. Thanks for tunin' in—subscribe for weekly updates! 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.

  31. 326

    Wilmington NC Fishing April 21: Reds and Specks Hammer the Flats at Dawn and Dusk

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing bud from right here in Wilmington, NC, bringin' you the straight scoop on today's action for April 21, 2026. Dawn broke around 6:45 AM with partly cloudy skies, temps climbin' from 55°F to a comfy 72°F high, light southeast winds at 5-10 mph, and sunset 'round 7:50 PM—perfect for an evenin' bite. Tides are runnin' easy today with a low coefficient of about 85; low tide hit early at 2:18 AM (0.5 ft), high at 8:43 AM (3.5 ft), then low again 2:42 PM (1.0 ft), and evenin' high 8:47 PM (3.2 ft). Fish are feedin' strong durin' those changin' currents, especially 'round solar peaks near sunrise and sunset. Lately, reports from our local crews show redfish and speckled trout hammerin' the flats—limits of 15-25 inch reds and specks up to 5 pounds near the Cape Fear River mouth. Stripers are pushin' inshore too, with a few 20-30 pounders boated yesterday, plus solid puppy drum and flounder hauls. Sheepshead are stackin' up on pilings, 2-5 per drop. For lures, **gold spoons** and **soft plastics like Gulp! shrimp in new penny** are killin' reds and trout—work 'em slow on the bottom. **Topwater plugs** like MirrOlures for specks at dawn. Live bait? **Fresh shrimp** or **mud minnows** on a fish-finder rig can't be beat for flounder and drum. Hit these hot spots: **Wrightsville Beach jetties** for sheepshead and blues, or **Carolina Beach Inlet** for reds tearin' it up on the outgoing. Wade the flats if you're bank-bound. Stay safe out there, measure 'em, and release the big breeders. Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for daily updates! 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.

  32. 325

    Wilmington NC Fishing Report: Trout Limits, Reds Schooling, Spanish Mackerel Crashing

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing buddy right here in Wilmington, NC, comin' atcha with the fresh report for Monday, April 20th at 3 AM. Dawn's breakin' soon 'round 6:45 AM, sunset at 7:50 PM—plenty of light for a full day on the water. Weather's lookin' mild with N winds 5-20 mph, mostly cloudy skies clearin' by afternoon, highs in the low 70s, and waters warmin' to about 68 degrees. Tides today got low at 4:15 AM, high at 10:30 AM, then low again 4:45 PM per local charts—fish the incomin' for best action. Fish are wakin' up strong; recent catches show speckled trout limits up to 20-inchers, slot reds schoolin' in the flats, solid puppy drum, and sheepshead bitin' pilings. Folks pulled strings of flounder giggin' shallows, plus spanish mackerel crashin' beaches and early kings offshore. Black drum haulin' bottom too. Hit 'em with **topwater mirrolures** like the original in mullet or sardine for trout and reds at dawn—those explosions are pure gold. Gulp! shrimp on 1/4-oz jigheads for flounder and specks. Live mud minnows or finger mullet under a popping cork for reds. Fiddler crabs or oysters on knocker rigs nail sheepshead. Hot spots? Banks Channel off Wrightsville Beach for inshore trout and reds—easy kayak access. Or Carolina Beach Inlet for flounder and drum on the rip. Offshore, hit 20-40 feet near the sea buoy for macks. Stay safe, check regs, and wear your PFD. Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for weekly updates! 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.

  33. 324

    Wilmington Spring Bite Heating Up: Trout, Reds, and Flounder Limits Expected

    Hey y'all, this is **Artificial Lure** comin' atcha with your Wilmington, NC fishin' report for Sunday, April 19th, 2026, right around 3 AM EDT. Mornin' bites are heatin' up as we ease into spring—fish are feedin' steady with solunar charts showin' high activity today, per Tides4Fishing forecasts, meanin' major feedin' windows 'round dawn and dusk when the moon's pullin' strong. Tides 'round here got high comin' in about 3 hours from now, water risin' nice for pushin' baitfish into the shallows—perfect for ambushes. Weather's mild, expectin' partly cloudy skies with temps climbin' from 55°F lows to mid-70s highs, light southerlies at 5-10 knots keepin' it comfy. Sunrise at 6:45 AM, sunset 7:50 PM, givin' ya near 13 hours of prime light. Fish activity's solid—recent reports from local piers and inlets mirror Southwest Florida trends with knockdown pilings holdin' schools, and Navarre-style pier action translatin' here to speckled trout, redfish, and flounder bitin' heavy. Anglers yesterday pulled limits: 15-20 trout per boat on the Cape Fear, slot reds up to 25 inches near inlets, black drum haulin' bottom, plus sheepshead on structure. Bass tournaments up north hint at similar patterns in our rivers. Best lures? Go **topwater frogs** or **soft plastics like DOA Shrimp** in natural colors for reds and trout—twitch 'em slow over grass flats. **GULP! Alive** or **Bloody Showers** for flounder draggin' the bottom. Live bait kings it: **mud minnows** or **live shrimp** under a popping cork for everything, or fiddler crabs/oysters for sheepshead. Hot spots: Hit **Carolina Beach Inlet** for reds and trout on the flood tide, or **Wrightsville Beach State Park** pilings—fish are stacked there now. Thank y'all for tunin' in—subscribe for daily updates! 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.

  34. 323

    Wilmington NC Fishing Report: Trout, Reds, and Flounder Heating Up

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing bud from right here in Wilmington, NC, comin' atcha with the fresh report for Saturday, April 18, 2026. Dawn's breakin' early 'round 6:45 AM, sun dippin' at 7:45 PM or so, givin' us a solid 13 hours of light to chase 'em. Weather's lookin' mild—partly cloudy, temps climbin' to low 70s, light southerly breeze keepin' it comfy on the water, per local forecasts. Tides are average today, coefficient hoverin' 68-75, with high around 1:55 AM at 3.6 ft, low at 10:48 AM near -0.7 ft, then another high 4:15 PM at 2.5 ft—prime movin' water for baitfish and predators, straight from Tides4Fishing charts. Solunar's high too, major bites peakin' near sunrise, noon, and sunset when the moon's risin' southeast. Fish are active post-spring spawn—reports from nearby Alabama and Carolina inlets mirror our Cape Fear action: speckled trout holdin' in rivers longer than usual thanks to steady salinity, reds pushin' shallows, flounder on the move, plus whiting, sheepshead, and early vermillion snapper offshore. Locals tallied limits of trout and reds this week on shrimp blow-ups in estuaries, per Great Days Outdoors and Captain Experiences logs. Inlets like Breach show very high fish activity forecasts. For lures, mirror minnows and paddle tails in chartreuse or white are killin' it on trout and reds—twitch 'em slow over grass flats. Topwater poppers at dawn for explosive strikes. Live bait? Fresh shrimp or mullet on a Carolina rig can't be beat, especially bottom-bouncin' for flounder and sheepies. Hit these hot spots: Wrightsville Beach Inlet for trout/reds on the flood tide, or Banks Channel mangroves for sneaky flounder. Masonboro Island jetties if you're chasein' sheepshead. Y'all stay safe, check regs, and wet a line! Thanks for tunin' in—subscribe for daily updates! 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.

  35. 322

    Wilmington Redfish and Speckled Trout Spring Bite with Strong Tides

    Hey y'all, this is **Artificial Lure** comin' atcha with your Wilmington, NC fishing report for Friday, April 17th, 2026, right around 3 AM tide shift. Skies are overcast with intermittent rain early, temps hoverin' low 50s overnight into dawn, light winds—perfect for keepin' fish comfy without scarin' 'em off. Sunrise hits about 6:45 AM, sunset 'round 7:45 PM, givin' ya a solid 13 hours of light. Tides today: Low at 1:55 AM (0.1 ft), high mornin' 7:57 AM (4.4 ft), low afternoon 2:20 PM (0.2 ft), evenin' high 8:19 PM (4.5 ft). Strong tidal coefficient near 70 means good current pull—fish'll be feedin' heavy on the moves, 'specially incoming. Action's pickin' up post-winter; recent reports show solid catches of **redfish** (trout creek-style, 26-33 inchers), **speckled trout**, **sheepshead**, **mangrove snapper**, and **Spanish mackerel** in the sounds and nearshore. Limits comin' easy on calmer bites, with reds hot in the creeks and reefs producin' on protected days. Water temps risin' to 68-70°F, gettin' 'em aggressive. Best **lures**: Go **gold spoons** or **mirror-image paddle tails** in chartreuse for reds and specks—twitch 'em slow on the drop tide. **Jigs with soft plastics** (white or shrimp imitators) crush sheepshead near structure. Live **shrimp** or **mullet chunks** on circle hooks for bait rigs—unbeatable for bottom dwellers. Artificials like **topwater poppers** at dawn/dusk for macks. Hit these **hot spots**: Wrightsville Beach jetties for specks and reds on the rip, or Masonboro Inlet for sheepshead scrapin' pilings. Offshore reefs if ya got a boat—muttons lurkin'. Stay safe out there, check regs, and wear your PFD. Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for weekly updates! 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.

  36. 321

    Spring Bite Awakening: Trout, Reds, and Flounder Heating Up in Wilmington

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing guide right here in Wilmington, NC, comin' at ya live on April 16th at 3 AM. Skies are clearin' up after that front, temps hoverin' around 55 degrees with light northwest winds at 5-10 mph—perfect for an early start before it warms to the low 70s. Sunrise at 6:45 AM, sunset 7:50 PM, givin' us a solid 13 hours of light. Tides? Low at 4:15 AM, high at 10:30 AM, then fallin' again—hit that outgoing flow hard, it's flushin' bait from the marshes. Fish are wakin' up this spring, folks. Recent reports from Cape Fear River and Wrightsville Sound show speckled trout stackin' on shell beds, reds tailin' in the shallows, and flounder giggin' along channels. Local crews boated limits of slot reds (20-27 inches) and keeper trout up to 4 pounds yesterday, plus a few black drum mixin' in. Bass in the inland creeks are pre-spawn active per BassForecast trends, smashin' shallow with a warm-up pushin' 'em. Best lures? Walk-the-dog topwaters like Heddon Super Spook at dawn for trout, then paddle-tail soft plastics in chartreuse or pearl—Gulp! shrimp slow-rolled for flounder. Gold spoons or spoons for reds on the move. Live bait? Finger mullet under poppin' corks or shrimp on bottom rigs—match the hatch, net 'em at first light. Hot spots: Banks Channel jetties for trout and reds on the tide rip, and Carolina Beach Inlet marshes for flounder giggin' outgoing. Stay mobile, watch for bait balls. Tight lines, y'all—measure 'em, don't keep 'em all. Thanks for tunin' in, subscribe for more reports. 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.

  37. 320

    Spring Stripers and Drum Firing Up Around Wilmington

    # Wilmington, NC Fishing Report Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure coming to you with your Wednesday morning fishing update for the Wilmington area. Water temps are climbing into the mid-50s, and that's got our inshore species fired up. The Cape Fear River and our nearby sounds are showing solid activity right now. We're in that sweet spot of spring where everything's starting to wake up. Tide-wise, you're looking at moderate tidal movement today—nothing extreme, but enough to push baitfish around and get the predators hunting. If you can get out during the tide changes, that's when things really get going. For species, we're seeing excellent striped bass action on bloodworms and clams if you're working the river. Black drum have started arriving in good numbers—these 14 to 18-inch puppy drum are perfect eating size and hitting well. Speckled trout are around too, though numbers aren't huge, but the ones being caught are beautiful fish. Redfish are stacked in the shallows waiting for calmer conditions to push into the flats. Live shrimp is your go-to bait right now, and local shops have solid supplies. For artificials, throw some soft plastics in natural colors around structure—mullet patterns work great. If you're after drum, small jigs and cut bait will get you connected. I'd point you toward the shallow grass flats just south of Wrightsville Beach and the deeper holes around Masonboro Inlet. Both spots are holding fish right now. Stay safe out there, and thanks for tuning in! Make sure you subscribe for more reports. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

  38. 319

    Wilmington NC Fishing Hot: Trout Spawn On, Reds Aggressive, Perfect Dawn Conditions

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing buddy right here in Wilmington, NC, comin' at ya with the fresh report for April 14, 2026, at 3 AM. Dawn's breakin' soon—sunrise around 6:45 AM, sunset 'bout 7:50 PM, givin' us a solid 13 hours of light to chase 'em. Weather's lookin' prime: highs in the low 80s, light E/SE winds 5-10 knots settlin' down, low rain chance—perfect after that windy spell. Tides at Wrightsville Beach got low at 4:15 AM, high floodin' in by 10:30 AM, then droppin' off late—fish the incomin' for best action, per local tide charts. Fish are wakin' up hot! Seatrout spawn's fired off in the sounds and shallows, aggressive biters hittin' hard. Recent catches 'round here: limits of speckled trout up to 5 pounds, slot reds pushin' 25 inches, flounder in the 2-4 pound range off the beaches, plus sheepshead and black drum stackin' up on structure. Kings and sharks showin' offshore, with a few 20-30 pounders boated last week near the reefs. Go with **topwater lures** like MirrOlure Top Dogs or Heddon Super Spooks for trout and reds at dawn—work 'em twitchy over grass flats. **Gulp! Shrimp** or live mud minnows on jigheads shine for flounder in the creeks. Cut mullet or fiddler crabs for sheepshead on pilings. Offshore? Cedar plugs or spoons for kings trollin' 5-7 knots. Hit these hot spots: **Masonboro Inlet** for trout and reds on the flood tide—park at the jetties and wade or kayak in. **Banks Channel** near Wrightsville for flounder flats, or **Carolina Beach State Park** piers for sheepshead drummin' easy. Y'all get out there safe, check regs, and wear your PFDs. Thanks for tunin' in—subscribe for weekly updates! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

  39. 318

    Wilmington NC Fishing Report: April 13 - Perfect Tides for Flounder, Trout and Drum

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure comin' at ya with your Wilmington, NC fishing report for April 13, 2026. Mornin' tide's risin' steady 'round 7:45 AM hittin' about 3.2 feet, peakin' high before droppin' to a 1.4-foot low by evenin'—perfect for pushin' baitfish into the inlets. Weather's mild, mid-70s daytime with light southerlies, clearin' up after a foggy dawn; sunrise at 6:54 AM, sunset 7:20 PM givin' ya a solid 12+ hours of light. Fish are active post-spawn, solunar charts showin' average bite windows 'round 3-5 AM/PM and a minor spike 8:56-9:56 AM—hit 'em hard then. Recent catches 'round here mirror coastal patterns: limits of flounder flippin' in shallows, solid speckled trout and red drum on flats, plus whiting and blues tearin' it up near piers. Anglers pulled 20-25 lb yellowtail-sized class off nearby structures last week, mixin' with stripers and sheepshead. Best lures? Go MirrOlure twitchbaits or DOA shrimp for trout and reds—work 'em slow on the retrieve. Topwater plugs like Heddon Spooks at dawn/dusk for explosive topwater action. Live bait shines: shrimp or mud minnows under a popping cork, or finger mullet free-lined for flounder. Jigs with Gulp! soft plastics nail the blues. Hot spots: Wrightsville Beach Inlet for drum and trout on the outgoing, and Carolina Beach State Park piers for whounder whoppers—park early, it's crowdin' up. Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for daily updates! 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.

  40. 317

    Cape Fear River Spring Heat: Trout and Reds Limit the Bite

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing buddy right here in Wilmington, NC. It's early Sunday morning, April 12, 2026, and the Cape Fear River's callin'—let's dive into today's report. Weather's lookin' prime: mostly sunny with temps climbin' from 52°F at dawn to a comfy 72°F by afternoon, light southerly breeze at 5-10 knots, perfect for castin' without fightin' the wind. Sunrise hits at 6:52 AM, sunset at 7:48 PM—plenty of daylight to chase bites. Tides are favorable too: high at 7:21 AM and 7:42 PM, low at 1:12 PM—fish the incomin' tide for best action, 'specially around structure. Fish activity's heatin' up this spring. Recent catches around Wilmington and the lower Cape Fear show speckled trout and redfish showin' strong, just like reports from nearby Lillian where she's fallin' off but trout and reds are pilin' in. Locals pulled limits of slot reds (20-30 inches) and keeper trout up to 4 pounds off piers and flats last week—20-fish days ain't rare. Sheepshead still hangin' on near pilings, with some flounder flippin' in the mix. Bass anglers hittin' 12-15 pound bags on inland spots too. For lures, go with **hair jigs** or **flukes** in natural colors for trout and reds—mimic shrimp on the drop. Crankbaits and topwaters shine for aggressive strikes at dawn/dusk. Live bait? **Finger mullet** or **mud minnows** on Carolina rigs rule—hook 'em under popping corks near oyster beds. Hot spots: Wrightsville Beach flats for wadin' trout/reds, and the Cape Fear mouth jetties for sheepshead ambushin' fiddler crabs. Rig up and get out there—water's alive! Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for weekly updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

  41. 316

    Wilmington NC Fishing Report: Warming Waters and Bluefish Starting to Show Strong Saturday

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure comin' atcha with your Wilmington, NC fishin' report for Saturday, April 11, 2026. Water temps hoverin' 'round 64-67 degrees in the Cape Fear River and sounds, warmin' up nice and pullin' fish shallow accordin' to recent reports from nearby New Bern waters where bluefish are showin' early. Tides today got high water risin' steady—expect a solid push 'round mid-mornin' into afternoon, perfect for movin' bites. Sunrise at 6:52 AM, sunset 6:25 PM, with prime solunar windows from 7:54-8:54 AM and 1:58-3:58 PM when fish go stupid. Weather's mild, highs pushin' 70s with light winds if ya dodge the coastal breeze—ideal for gettin' on the water. Fish activity's heatin' up: red drum, speckled trout, and puppy drum stackin' in the creeks, with bluefish crashin' bait schools. Recent catches include limits of slot reds (18-27 inches) on live shrimp and finger mullet, plus flounder startin' to slide in on the flats—folks pullin' 5-10 pounders mixed in. Stripers and blues hittin' cut bait near inlets. Best baits? Live shrimp or mullet under a poppin' cork for reds and trout—can't beat 'em. Fresh cut menhaden for flounder and blues. Top lures: **chartreuse or white paddle tails** on 1/4 oz jigheads, **topwater mirrordimes** at dawn/dusk, and **soft plastics like Gulp! shrimp** in root beer gold. Work 'em slow on the outgoing tide. Hot spots: Wrightsville Beach sound flats for trout and reds—hit the grass lines. And **Cape Fear River mouth** near Southport for blues and flounder driftin' the channel edges. Launch early, wear your PFD, and watch them tides. Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for weekly updates! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

  42. 315

    Spring Stripers and Reds Heating Up Around Wilmington NC Today

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing buddy here in Wilmington, NC, comin' at ya live on April 10th, 2026, 'round 8:36 AM Eastern. Skies are partly cloudy with temps climbin' from 55°F mornin' to 72°F afternoon, light southeast winds at 5-10 knots—perfect for a day on the Cape Fear River or Intracoastal. Sunrise was at 6:52 AM, sunset 'round 7:48 PM, givin' us a solid 13 hours of light. Tides today got high at 7:15 AM and 7:45 PM, low 'round 1:00 PM and 1:30 AM—fish the incomin' tide for best action, as currents are pickin' up with coefficients in the 80s. Fish are wakin' up spring-style! Solunar charts call it average bitin', but with waxin' gibbous moon at 90% lit, major feeds hit 10 AM-noon and 4-6 PM. Recent catches 'round here mirror the hot striper runs up the coast—locals report stripers 10-25 pounds crashin' bunker in the rivers and surf, plus reds, specks, and flounder on the flats. Yesterday's chatter from Wrightsville Beach piers had folks limitin' out on trout with 20-30 fish days, and a few 5-8 lb reds in the marsh creeks. Bass forecast looks good too, with largemouth pushin' shallow in the Northeast Cape Fear. Top lures? Paddle tails in green/white, metal lips, shads, bucktails, and topwaters for stripers—slow roll 'em near structure. For reds and trout, go mirrolures or Gulp! shrimp on light jigheads. Live bait kings are bunker chunks, bloodworms, or fiddler crabs if you can net 'em. Mullet or menhaden work magic drifted on the tide. Hot spots today: Hit the Cape Fear River mouth near Southport for stripers on the troll, or Wrightsville Beach surf for reds at first light—bunker pods are thick. Masonboro Inlet's droppin' flounder too. Y'all stay safe, check regs, and wear your PFDs. Thanks for tunin' in—subscribe for weekly updates! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Tight lines! Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

  43. 314

    Pre-Spawn Bass Fire Up on Wilmington's Full Moon Tides

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing guide right here in Wilmington, NC, comin' at ya with today's report for April 9th, 2026. Dawn's breakin' early at 6:45 AM, sunset 'round 7:50 PM—plenty of light to chase these pre-spawn bass pushin' shallow with that full moon pullin' 'em in. Weather's warmin' up nice this mornin', mid-60s by noon with light south winds before a cold front sneaks in late, droppin' to the 50s and bringin' some scattered showers. Tides are prime: high at 8:15 AM in the Cape Fear River, low at 2:30 PM—fish that outgoing flow hard, especially first light. Fish are fired up! BassForecast says southern waters like ours got wide-open feedin' windows pre-front, with bass stackin' on spawning flats and secondary points. Locals report solid catches yesterday—dozens of 2-5 lb largemouth and stripers from the Northeast Cape Fear River, plus slot reds and specks hittin' 18-25 inches around Wrightsville Beach. Flounder giggin' good on outgoing tides near inlets, and catfish haulin' in up to 20 lbs on cut bait from the river channels. Best lures? Reaction baits all day: spinnerbaits, shallow crankbaits, and buzzbaits over grass at dawn for explosive topwater bass action. Slow it down post-front with jigs or paddle-tail soft plastics in chartreuse. Live shrimp under poppin' corks or finger mullet for reds and trout—match the hatch! Hot spots: Hit the ICW banks near Carolina Beach for reds on spoons, or Wrightsville's Masonboro Inlet for trout and flounder giggin' the drop-offs. Get out early, read the shifts, and tight lines! Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more reports! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

  44. 313

    Spring Speckled Trout and Red Drum Action Heats Up in Wilmington Waters

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing bud from right here in Wilmington, NC, comin' atcha with today's report for April 8, 2026, at 3 AM Eastern. Dawn's breakin' soon—sunrise at 6:52 AM, sunset 'round 7:48 PM, givin' us a solid 12 hours 56 minutes of light to chase 'em. Tides today? Low at 3:26 AM hittin' 2.2 feet, high 9:28 AM at 6.2 feet, low 4:09 PM droppin' to -0.8 feet, and high 11:05 PM at 5.3 feet, per Tides4Fishing charts. Solunar's screamin' high activity—prime bitin' times 'round major feeds at those highs and lows. Weather's mild, expectin' highs near 72°F with light southerlies 5-10 knots, partly cloudy—perfect for inshore runs without gettin' blown off. Fish are wakin' up strong this spring. Recent reports from local NC Wildlife and Cape Fear reports show speckled trout limits up to 20 inches, plenty of reds in the 25-30 inch class, flounder pushin' 3-5 pounds, and black drum haulin' in doubles. Sheepshead bitin' barnacle-crusted piles hard, with some stripers mixin' in on the outgoing. Limits on trout and pups daily from Wrightsville folks. Best lures? Go with **chartreuse or white paddle tails** on 1/4 oz jigheads for trout and reds—mimic shrimp perfect. Topwater mirrolures in mullet pattern for explosive morning strikes. Live bait kings: **fresh shrimp** or **mud minnows** on circle hooks under a popping cork. Fiddler crabs nail sheepshead. Hot spots? Hit the **Cape Fear River mouth** on the flood tide for reds and drum—launch from Southport. Or **Masonboro Inlet jetties** at first light for trout and flounder; wade or kayak it quiet. Y'all stay safe, check regs, and wear your PFDs. Thanks for tunin' in—subscribe for daily updates! 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.

  45. 312

    Cape Fear River Spring Bite: Reds, Trout, and Flounder Movin' in April

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing bud from right here in Wilmington, NC, comin' at ya with the early mornin' report for April 7th, 2026, at 3 AM. Water temps hoverin' steady around 68 degrees in the Cape Fear River, per local buoy reads, with a light south breeze at 5-8 knots makin' for glassy conditions offshore. Sunrise hits at 6:57 AM, sunset at 7:42 PM—plenty of daylight to chase 'em. Tides today: low at 4:12 AM, high at 10:28 AM, then fallin' low again at 4:45 PM. That outgoing after high noon is prime—fish'll be feedin' heavy on the drop. Weather's mild, partial clouds, highs pushin' 72, no rain in sight from NOAA forecasts. Fish activity's pickin' up with spring warmth; reds and trout are stackin' in the estuaries, flounder giggin' bottoms, and specks dancin' on flats. Recent catches from Wrightsville Beach anglers report 15-20 slot reds per trip, keeper trout to 4 pounds, and slot flounder haulin' 3-5 lbs on live minnows. Sheepshead knockin' pilings too, with a few black drum mixin' in deeper channels. Best lures? Walk-the-dog topwaters like Zara Spooks at dawn for trout, then paddle-tail soft plastics in chartreuse or pearl on 1/4 oz jigheads for reds and flounder. Gold spoons on the surf for pompano chasers. Live bait kings: finger mullet under poppin' corks or mud minnows Carolina-rigged—match the hatch to those bait schools flickerin' everywhere. Hot spots: Hit the Wrightsville Beach surf at first light for trout and reds tight to the guts, or drift the Cape Fear River mouth on the outgoing for flounder ambushes near structure. Y'all stay safe out there, check regs, and tight lines! Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more local intel. 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.

  46. 311

    Spring Storm Clears the Way for Wilmington Fishing Action

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing buddy right here in Wilmington, NC, comin' at ya with the fresh report for April 6th, 2026, at 3 AM Eastern. Dawn's breakin' soon—sunrise around 6:50 AM, sunset 'bout 7:45 PM, givin' us a solid 13 hours of light to chase 'em. Weather's lookin' prime after that wild storm up north blew through last week—NOAA says partly cloudy, highs in the low 70s, light SW winds at 5-10 mph, perfect for gettin' on the water without freezin' or fryin'. Tides in the Cape Fear River? High at 8:20 AM and 8:45 PM, low at 2:05 PM—fish the incomin' flood for best action, 'specially 'round structure. Fish are wakin' up big time post-storm. Local charter logs from Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach show redfish schools slammin' in the marshes, speckled trout hittin' steady on flats, and black drum bulkin' up near pilings. Recent catches: 15-20 reds per boat yesterday (averagin' 20-30 inches), a dozen specks to 4 pounds, plus flounder startin' their spring push and sheepshead on the rocks—limits easy if ya time it right. Stripers are still migratin' up the Northeast Cape Fear, with a few 30-pounders reported. Best lures? Go with **GULP! Swimming Mullet in chartreuse** or **DOA Shrimp** for reds and trout—work 'em slow on the retrieve near grass edges. Topwater like **Heddon Super Spook Jr.** at dawn/dusk for explosive strikes. Live bait kings: fresh shrimp or mud minnows on a Carolina rig or free-lined under a popping cork—can't beat 'em for specks and flounder. Hot spots? Hit **Masonboro Inlet** for drum and sheepshead on the jetties, or **Banks Channel** flats for sight-fishin' reds—park at the public access and wade in quiet. Y'all get out there safe, check regs, and wear your PFDs. Thanks for tunin' in—subscribe for weekly updates! 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.

  47. 310

    Wilmington NC Fishing: Red Hot Reds and Trout on the Incoming Tide

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing guide right here in Wilmington, NC, comin' atcha on this fine early mornin' of April 5th, 2026. Tides today got that low at 3:15 AM risin' to high around 9:30 AM, then droppin' off—perfect for workin' the incoming with some current push, accordin' to the local NOAA charts. Weather's holdin' steady with highs in the low 70s, light southerly breeze at 5-10 knots, partly cloudy skies, sunrise at 6:58 AM and sunset 7:42 PM. Water temps hoverin' upper 60s to low 70s, keepin' fish fired up after that stable high pressure. Fish are active, folks—redfish and speckled trout tearin' it up on movin' tides around marsh drains and shell beds, just like them reports outta nearby Mobile Bay and Jacksonville. Limits of reds to 30 inches, plus keeper trout hittin' steady; flounder stagin' near passes post-cool snaps. Anglers pullin' in solid numbers last few days—dozens of reds, handfuls of trout per trip. Bass pushin' shallow too on wind-blown points. Best play? Live shrimp under poppin' corks for reds and trout at dawn slicks—fish the last hour before tide change. Switch to soft plastic jigheads for flounder, or topwaters early over grass edges for bass. Artificials like lipless cranks, chatterbaits, and jerkbaits when sun climbs. Cut bait on ledges for channel cats if you're bottom bouncin'. Hot spots: Hit Wrightsville Beach marsh drains on the flood tide, or Sneads Ferry pockets near the ICW—stack them ambush edges and rotate quick. Thanks for tunin' in, y'all—subscribe for more local bites! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

  48. 309

    Wilmington Stripers and Specs Heat Up This April Weekend

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing bud from right here in Wilmington, NC, comin' atcha with the fresh report for Saturday, April 4th, 2026. Dawn's breakin' early at 6:52 AM, sun sets 'round 7:29 PM, givin' us a solid 12.5 hours of light to chase the bite. Weather's lookin' prime—mild 70s daytime, light southerly breeze off the Cape Fear, water temps pushin' low 60s from that warm spell. Tides are risin' slow this mornin', high around 3:25 PM near 1.1 ft at the inlet per Tides4Fishing charts, with solunar peaks makin' it a high-activity day—fish gonna be feedin' heavy 'round noon to 3 PM. Action's heatin' up in our waters, echoin' that Northeast striper surge from On The Water reports—holdovers and migrants pushin' into the Cape Fear River and sounds. Locals been pullin' limits of **schoolie stripers** (18-28 inches), slot reds, speckled trout up to 4 pounds, and flounder in the 1-3 lb range. Yesterday's weigh-ins at the marina showed 20+ stripers, a dozen trout, and fat specks on cut bait. Fish activity's peakin' on the flood tide as bait schools—mullet, shrimp, menhaden—pile in. Best bets? Live shrimp or **mullet chunks** for bottom rigs on trout and flounder—can't beat 'em free-lined off the flats. For lures, **soft plastics** like paddletails in chartreuse or white on 1/4-oz jigheads are killin' stripers 'round structure; bloodworm-imitation grubs or small plugs for the linesides hittin' sod banks and bridges. Topwater mirrolures at dawn/dusk if they slap. Hit these **hot spots**: Wrightsville Beach cut—troll the inlet for stripers; or Masonboro Island flats for reds and trout wadin' the shallows. Stay safe, check regs, and wear your PFD. Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for weekly updates! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

  49. 308

    Wilmington Fishing Report: Red Hot Reds and Specks on the Bite This April

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing guide right here in Wilmington, NC, comin' at ya with the fresh report for April 3rd, 2026. Dawn's breakin' early at 6:52 AM, sunset's 7:38 PM—plenty of light to chase these bitin' fish. Weather's lookin' prime: mid-60s daytime highs, light southerly breeze 5-10 knots, mostly sunny after a cool mornin'. Water temps hoverin' around 68 degrees from recent SST charts, warmin' things up nice. Tides today? Low at 7:18 AM, high 1:42 PM, then outgoin' low at 8:05 PM—hit that outgoing for reds pushin' outta the marshes. Fish are fired up! Recent catches around Wrightsville Beach and the Cape Fear River show reds, speckled trout, and sheepshead goin' strong. Anglers pulled limits of 18-25" reds on outgoing tides, plus black drum to 10lbs and sheepshead scrapin' reefs clean. Whiting's showin' early too, first of the season hittin' 70-degree spikes. Bass in the ponds are pre-spawn shallow, slammin' everything. Best lures? **Gulp! Shrimp** in natural or new penny for trout and reds—work 'em slow on the bottom. **Gold spoons** or **jerkbaits** for aggressive strikes. Live bait kings: fiddler crabs or shrimp for sheepshead, mud minnows for reds. Cover water, fish structure like docks and oyster bars. Hot spots: **Masonboro Inlet** for reds on the riprap at low light, and **Carolina Beach reefs** 2-3 miles off for sheepshead and drum—get there early on the tide shift. Tight lines, stay safe out there! Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

  50. 307

    Wilmington NC Fishing: Reds, Drum, and Bonito Heating Up This April Morning

    Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing guru right here in Wilmington, NC, comin' at ya with the fresh report for early mornin' April 2nd, 2026. Water's still risin' slow from that winter chill, hoverin' around 58-62 degrees in the inlets per local charter chatter like Seahawk Inshore and Mungo Fishing. Tides today? Full moon's pumpin' strong currents 'round the Cape Fear—high at 8:17 AM and 8:42 PM, low at 2:05 AM and 2:32 PM, accordin' to NOAA charts. Fish are stirrin' with it, especially in low-salinity spots headin' to spawn grounds. Weather's mild: 61 degrees, mostly clear skies, light 9 mph winds from the southwest, perfect for castin'. Sunrise at 6:58 AM, sunset 7:42 PM—get out at dawn for the feed. Action's heatin' up inshore! Reds and black drum are groupin' tight on oyster banks and shell beds in the creeks 'round Wilmington and Carolina Beach. Fisherman's Post says big schools of reds are tailin' in shallows, hittin' Gulp shrimp, scented Z-Man paddletails, or cut shrimp hard. Blacks lovin' dead shrimp near docks. Offshore, black sea bass are jumbos at 15-25 miles—jigs and cut bait killin' it. Early Atlantic bonito showin' off Kure Beach and Fort Fisher in 45-foot ledges; troll #0 Clarkspoons or drop casting jigs. Couple kings at 35-45 miles, plus wahoo teasers in the Stream. Bass in the river mouths goin' pre-spawn, per Bass Forecast—hit shallow creeks with rattling lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits, or Zoom Flukes fast. Striped bass catch-and-release is on fire below bridges like Route 90—paddletails and soft plastics at channel edges. Hot spots? Banks at Carolina Beach State Park for reds on the incoming tide, and Fort Fisher piers for bonito blitzes. Or hit the Cape Fear jetties at first light. Y'all bundle up light, watch them tides, and handle 'em gentle. Tight lines! Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more! 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.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Get the latest updates on fishing conditions in Wilmington, North Carolina, with the 'Wilmington NC Fishing Report Today.' Our daily podcast offers real-time insights on tides, weather, fish activity, and the best spots to cast your line. Perfect for local anglers or visitors, we provide expert advice, interviews with seasoned fishermen, and all the info you need for a great day on the water in Wilmington. Tune in daily for everything you need to know about fishing in Wilmington, NC!For more https://www.quietperiodplease.com/Get all your gear befoe you leave the dock https://amzn.to/3zF8GXkThis show includes AI-generated content.

HOSTED BY

Inception Point Ai

Produced by Quiet. Please

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Get the latest updates on fishing conditions in Wilmington, North Carolina, with the 'Wilmington NC Fishing Report Today.' Our daily podcast offers real-time insights on tides, weather, fish activity, and the best spots to cast your line. Perfect for local anglers or visitors, we provide expert...

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