Wilmington Fishing Report - Bonito Blitz, Reds and Sheepshead, Nearshore Action Heats Up Podcast By cover art

Wilmington Fishing Report - Bonito Blitz, Reds and Sheepshead, Nearshore Action Heats Up

Wilmington Fishing Report - Bonito Blitz, Reds and Sheepshead, Nearshore Action Heats Up

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 Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Wilmington NC area fishing report for Friday, May 16, 2025.

Sunrise was at 6:09 am, and sunset will be at 8:08 pm. We’re sitting on a good fishing window today with stable May weather—expect mild temps in the low 70s early, rising into the mid-80s by afternoon, and light southeast winds making for pleasant conditions on the water. The tide will be incoming through much of the morning, with high tide peaking just before lunch, and then falling through the afternoon. That falling tide is always a sweet spot for inshore action.

Fish activity sure is picking up as we cruise toward summer. Nearshore, the Atlantic bonito bite is on fire right now—those speedsters are tearing up baits and lures, especially from the beach out to about 5 miles. Spanish mackerel are also showing strong; look for them busting bait schools near the surface. Folks have even found some early season cobia and a few small king mackerel mixed in—remember to check those kings for size before you box them[1][2][3][4].

A good number of bluefish are in the mix, often in the 12 to 16-inch range, so be ready for a tussle and plenty of bites. Bottom anglers are doing well on black sea bass around the deeper ledges and wrecks—18 to 22 miles out has produced some big ones lately. On the inshore scene, red drum and black drum are holding steady. The reds have broken out of their winter schools and are spreading through the spoil islands, creek mouths, and around structure, especially as the tide starts falling. Black drum and beefy sheepshead are reliable on the hard stuff with shrimp or sand fleas. Speckled trout action has been moderate, with the best luck on MirrOlure MR-17s that mimic the local menhaden[1][2][3][4].

For lures, Big Nic Spanish Candy spoons from 1/2 to 1.5 ounces are the ticket for Spanish and bonito, especially when cast with fast spinning gear. Gotcha plugs and metal jigs are working for bluefish and surface-feeding Spanish. Deep diver plugs are your best bet if you’re hunting bonito or kings a little farther offshore. For red drum, Carolina-rigged live pogies are hard to beat, and for the sheepshead, nothing beats a fresh fiddler crab or sand flea[2][3][4].

Hot spots worth checking today include the Masonboro Inlet area, especially for those fast-moving Spanish and bluefish, and the hard structure around Wrightsville Beach for sheepshead and reds. The nearshore reefs are on fire for bonito and the occasional king.

Tight lines to everybody out there. Remember, keep an eye on the weather and your catch sizes. See you on the water!
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