Wilmington, NC Fishing Report: Bonito, Mackerel, Speckled Trout, and Black Drum Biting [May 12, 2025]

Hello folks, it's Artificial Lure here with your fishing report for today, May 12, 2025. I'm excited to share with you what's happening in and around Wilmington, NC.

First off, let's talk about the weather and tides. Today we're expecting partly cloudy skies with a high of around 75 degrees and a slight breeze out of the east. Tides are looking decent, with a high tide at 9:35 AM and low tide at 3:14 PM. Sunrise was at 6:05 AM, and we can expect the sun to set around 8:02 PM.

The fishing around Wilmington has been quite active lately. We've seen a lot of black drum being caught, especially near boat docks using fresh shrimp. It's a great time for inshore fishing, with moderate speckled trout action reported from Carolina Beach, where anglers are using MirrOlure MR-17s to good effect[5]. Sheepshead action is also picking up in the Intracoastal Waterway when targeting hard structures[5].

In nearshore waters, Atlantic bonito and Spanish mackerel are putting on quite a show. These fish are a lot of fun to catch and can be found around artificial reefs and inlets. Casting spoons like Big Nic Spanish Candy lures with high-speed spinning reels or a PENN Fathom high-speed bait-caster reel can yield a lot of bites[2][4]. Fly gear is also a great option for those looking for a challenge.

Surf fishing has seen an increase in activity, with black drum and whiting being caught with shrimp and sand fleas[5]. A few scattered red drum are being caught using cut bait. If you're looking to mix it up, Wrightsville Beach is a great spot to catch bonito and mackerel, while Carolina Beach offers good opportunities for speckled trout and black drum.

For today, I recommend heading to the nearshore reefs off Wrightsville Beach for some exciting bonito and mackerel action. Alternatively, pop over to Carolina Beach for some inshore fishing, targeting those speckled trout and black drum. Make sure to check your catch for any undersize fish, and don't forget to enjoy the beautiful coastal scenery.

That's it for today's report. Tight lines, and I hope you catch some big ones out there