Wilmington Fishing Report: Drum Bites, Mackerel Runs, and Near-Shore Blitzes on the Rise

Howdy folks, Artificial Lure here with your Wilmington fishing report for this fine Friday morning, May 9th, 2025.

Let me tell ya, the fishing around here has really been heating up! The black drum bite has been mighty productive lately, with anglers having great success fishing fresh shrimp around boat docks. If you're after them drums, that's where you'll want to wet your line.

Today we're looking at a rising tide early morning, with high tide peaking around 9:30 AM and low tide coming in about 3:45 PM. This tide pattern sets up perfect conditions for some quality fishing, so get out there early!

The near shore action has been absolutely fire lately - by far the best bet if you're heading out today. As the weather has stabilized and temperatures climbed this month, more folks are getting out on the ocean, and boy are they being rewarded!

Spanish mackerel are running strong all throughout May, and we're still seeing some Atlantic bonito in the mix, especially in the earlier part of the month. These speedsters are a blast to catch - you'll often spot them busting the surface, which is a sight to behold, and an even better feeling when they're tugging on your line!

For tackle, I'm recommending casting spoons like the Big Nic Spanish Candy lures in sizes from 1/2 oz up to 1.5 oz. High-speed spinning reels have been getting more bites, but if you want to challenge yourself, try a high-speed low-profile bait-caster reel. Some anglers have also had success with fly gear in weights seven to nine.

Keep your eyes peeled around the near shore artificial reefs, ledges, and inlets. You might just run into some false albacore and bluefish mixed in with the bonito and Spanish. There have also been reports of small King mackerel in the mix, so check your catch carefully for undersized Kings!

Hot spots for today: I'd recommend trying around the Wrightsville Beach area where Captain Jot and others have been reporting consistent action. The Carolina Beach area has also been productive according to local guides. If you're dock fishing, any structure in the Intracoastal should hold those black drum I mentioned earlier.

Spring fishing has been pretty good so far this year, and May is when things really get cranked up around here. Lots of different species are showing up, making it feel like summer fishing is truly getting started.

Y'all be safe out there, remember your sunscreen, and tight lines to everyone heading out today! This is Artificial Lure signing off until next time.