How to use our fishing calendar
Planning your next fishing trip in Wilmington, United States ? Today is a average day for fishing. Our comprehensive fishing almanac combines our popular solunar tables, moon times, sunrise and sunset times, nearby tide chart, and a 7-day fishing calendar so you always know the best fishing times in your area. We analyse major and minor solunar bite times, rate each day on a five-star scale, and pair it with localized weather forecasts so you can quickly tell whether today is a good day to fish without juggling multiple tabs. Be sure to bookmark this page so you never miss a bite. view bite times...
- Check our unique Solunar Clock for precise solunar tables and the best moon phases.
- Use the Tide Clock section to sync bite times with high and low tide chart.
- Analyze the forecasted weather conditions, such as wind, barometric pressure and rain to plan your fishing session.
- Jump to the 7-Day Fishing Calendar for an extended fishing forecast, then explore nearby fishing spots on the interactive map.
Fishing in Wilmington, North Carolina centers around the Cape Fear River, Intracoastal Waterway, and easy access to the Atlantic Ocean, giving anglers inshore, nearshore, and offshore opportunities in one destination. From redfish and speckled trout on the flats to mahi, sailfish, and big grouper offshore, Wilmington fishing offers year-round action for both boat and shore-based anglers. read more...
Sun and Moon Times
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Nautical Twilight begins:Sunrise:
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Sunset:Nautical Twilight ends:
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Moonrise:
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Moonset:
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Moon over:
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Moon under:
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Visibility:5%
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Waning Crescent
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Distance to earth:363,328 kmProximity:99.5 %
Moon Phases for Wilmington
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average Day
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minor Time:02:45 am - 04:45 am
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major Time:10:29 am - 12:29 pm
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minor Time:06:13 pm - 08:13 pm
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major Time:11:03 pm - 01:03 am
Tides Times for Fishing: Sun, 12 Jul
Tide Clock
Tide Graph
Times
| Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|
| low | 05:51 am | 0.1 ft |
| high | 10:51 am | 1.64 ft |
| low | 05:44 pm | -0.1 ft |
| high | 11:34 pm | 2.1 ft |
Current Fishing Weather
Wind Speed and Direction
Wind Direction:
Wind Speed:
Wind Direction and Speed are one of the most important aspects for choosing a fishing spot. An offshore wind can help land-based anglers with longer casting distances, while an onshore wind will make kayak fishing safer. Often fish will also move to certain feeding areas depending on the wind direction. Check out the long term wind forecast at the charts below.
Fishing Barometer
Atmospheric Pressure:
Change since midnight:
Trend for next 6 hours:
Atmospheric or Barometric Pressure affects fish activity. The best fishing can be had on a rising barometer and also the time just before it is falling. A steady barometer in the higher ranges can also mean good fishing. A falling or low barometer reading without much change is usually not a very good time for fishing.
UV Effect on Fishing
As a rule of thumb, the higher the UV index, the deeper fish will move. Shallow water fishing is best done at times with a low UV index. When the UV is high, stick to early mornings, late evenings and shaded areas. The effect is less noticable in deeper water, but often a higher UV index can produce good results in the deep.
7 Day Fishing Weather
| Date | Major Bite Times | Minor Bite Times | Sun | Moon | Moonphase | Tide Times |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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R: S: |
R: S: |
Waning Crescent |
low:
, 0.16 ft
high:
, 1.61 ft
, Coeff: 78
low:
, -0.07 ft
high:
, 2.03 ft
, Coeff: 120
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|
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-
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-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
Waning Crescent |
low:
, 0.1 ft
high:
, 1.64 ft
, Coeff: 81
low:
, -0.1 ft
high:
, 2.1 ft
, Coeff: 126
|
|
|
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-
|
-
-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
 New Moon |
low:
, 0.03 ft
high:
, 1.67 ft
, Coeff: 85
low:
, -0.13 ft
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|
|
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-
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-
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R: S: |
R: S: |
New Moon |
high:
, 2.13 ft
, Coeff: 130
low:
, -0.03 ft
high:
, 1.74 ft
, Coeff: 91
low:
, -0.16 ft
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-
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-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
New Moon |
high:
, 2.13 ft
, Coeff: 130
low:
, -0.1 ft
high:
, 1.77 ft
, Coeff: 94
low:
, -0.13 ft
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|
|
-
-
|
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-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
 Waxing Crescent |
high:
, 2.1 ft
, Coeff: 126
low:
, -0.13 ft
high:
, 1.8 ft
, Coeff: 97
low:
, -0.1 ft
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|
|
-
-
|
-
-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
Waxing Crescent |
high:
, 2.07 ft
, Coeff: 123
low:
, -0.13 ft
high:
, 1.8 ft
, Coeff: 97
low:
, -0.07 ft
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|
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-
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-
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R: S: |
R: S: |
Waxing Crescent |
high:
, 1.97 ft
, Coeff: 114
low:
, -0.13 ft
high:
, 1.84 ft
, Coeff: 101
low:
, 0.03 ft
|
Fishing Overview Wilmington
Wilmington, NC fishing is driven by the intersection of the Cape Fear River, Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), coastal marshes, and the Atlantic Ocean. This mix of brackish and saltwater habitats puts inshore species like red drum and speckled trout within minutes of town, while nearshore reefs and offshore Gulf Stream waters hold everything from king mackerel to mahi and wahoo.
Inshore, focus on the marsh creeks, oyster bars, and grass flats stretching from Wilmington down toward Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach. Red drum, flounder, black drum, and speckled trout are prime targets. From late fall through winter, trout stack in deeper bends, creek mouths, and around bridge pilings; soft-plastic paddle tails on 1/8โ1/4 oz jig heads worked slowly near bottom are consistent producers. Redfish school in shallow bays and mud flats on sunny winter afternoons; target them with scented soft plastics or cut bait placed quietly ahead of the school.
Spring and summer bring bait into the ICW and Cape Fear River, and the action speeds up. Work docks, riprap, and edges of grass lines on a moving tide with live shrimp under popping corks or mud minnows on Carolina rigs for mixed bags of red drum, trout, flounder, and sheepshead. Around bridges and jetties, fiddler crabs and sand fleas tight to pilings are reliable for sheepshead. In the Cape Fear River itself, look for current seams, eddies, and drop-offs; heavier jig heads and live bait help you stay in the strike zone when the tide rips.
Nearshore, Wilmington anglers hit artificial reefs and live bottom within 5โ20 miles of the beach. Spanish mackerel and bluefish stack along color changes and bait pods from late spring through early fall. Troll small Clark spoons and No. 1 planers around birds and surface activity, or cast metal jigs into breaking fish. On the reefs, vertical jigging with 1โ3 oz jigs and dropping cut bait will produce black sea bass, grunts, and occasional grouper. Keep one rod rigged with a stinger-rigged live bait or large spoon for king mackerel around bait schools and structure.
Offshore, the Gulf Stream lies roughly 50โ70 miles off Wilmington, accessed from inlets like Carolina Beach and Masonboro. Spring through fall is prime for mahi, wahoo, tuna, and sailfish. Troll a spread of skirted ballyhoo and diving plugs along temperature breaks, weed lines, and rips. Watch your sounder for bait balls and structure; when life is concentrated, tighten your troll pattern and vary lure depths. For amberjack and grouper on offshore wrecks and ledges, use heavy spinning or conventional tackle with vertical jigs or live baits dropped to the bottom and cranked up a few turns.
Shore and pier anglers around Wilmington can do well without a boat. Area piers and surf zones along Wrightsville and Carolina Beach consistently give up pompano, sea mullet, blues, and Spanish. Use double-drop rigs with small hooks and sand fleas or shrimp in the surf, and Gotcha plugs or metal spoons for Spanish and blues off the pier ends. Time your trips around tide changes and early/late low-light windows, when fish push in close and feed more aggressively.
Interactive Fishing Map for the greater Wilmington area
Beaches and Bays are ideal places for land-based fishing. If the beach is shallow and the water is clear then twilight times are usually the best times, especially when they coincide with a major or minor fishing time. Often the points on either side of a beach are the best spots. Or if the beach is large then look for irregularities in the breaking waves, indicating sandbanks and holes. We found 5 beaches and bays in this area.
Vines Bay - 10.87066370926km , Singed Pig Bay - 11.16148632033km , Flat Bay - 11.45061221565km , Ready Bay - 11.70286513486km , Wrightsville Beach Marina - 12.40820237784km
Harbours and Marinas can often times be productive fishing spots for land based fishing as their sheltered environment attracts a wide variety of bait fish. Similar to river mouths, harbour entrances are also great places to fish as lots of fish will move in and out with the rising and falling tides. There are 7 main harbours in this area.
Sawmill Point Marina - 1.6758437772km, Point Harbor Marina - 1.83367128702km, Cape Fear Marina - 2.17427177115km, Masonboro Boat Yard and Marina - 11.94983692144km, Dockside Marina - 12.18823786445km, Bridge Tender Marina - 12.28439238171km, Wrightsville Beach Marina - 12.40820237784km
We found a total of 40 potential fishing spots nearby Wilmington. Below you can find them organized on a map. Points, Headlands, Reefs, Islands, Channels, etc can all be productive fishing spots. As these are user submitted spots, there might be some errors in the exact location. You also need to cross check local fishing regulations. Some of the spots might be in or around marine reserves or other locations that cannot be fished. If you click on a location marker it will bring up some details and a quick link to google search, satellite maps and fishing times. Tip: Click/Tap on a new area to load more fishing spots.
Northeast Cape Fear River - 0.94117612494km , Sawmill Point Marina - 1.6758437772km , Point Harbor Marina - 1.83367128702km , Cape Fear Marina - 2.17427177115km , Alligator Creek - 2.36856648442km , Greenfield Lake Dam - 2.45010410986km , Greenfield Creek - 2.70643363334km , Burnt Mill Creek - 2.82255968059km , Eagle Island - 2.97444981398km , Redmond Creek - 3.13115288746km , Sturgeon Creek - 4.16435015555km , Jackeys Creek - 4.87463187464km , Cartwheel Branch - 5.04109865692km , Ness Creek - 5.63832130598km , Clarks Island - 5.93327774012km , Brunswick River - 6.34082468846km , Piney Branch - 7.73635749616km , Mallory Creek - 8.02555080807km , Little Mallory Creek - 8.07128417304km , Catfish Creek - 8.1326476352km , Barnards Creek - 8.70624919545km , Rowel Branch - 8.86557039342km , Banton Branch - 8.86557039342km , Dollisons Swamp - 9.76614407302km , Mulberry Branch - 10.74091501692km , Vines Bay - 10.87066370926km , Singed Pig Bay - 11.16148632033km , Otter Branch - 11.19427398314km , Flat Bay - 11.45061221565km , Ready Bay - 11.70286513486km , Hewletts Creek - 11.85257619773km , Masonboro Boat Yard and Marina - 11.94983692144km , Cherry Tree Prong - 12.00346756222km , Whiskey Creek - 12.16136125783km , Dockside Marina - 12.18823786445km , Bridge Tender Marina - 12.28439238171km , Wrightsville Beach Marina - 12.40820237784km , Mott Creek - 12.48499743398km , Greenville Sound - 12.51029084065km , Dews Creek - 12.67535762891km
Harbours and
Marinas
Beaches
Bays
Wharfs
Points,Reefs,etc
Latest Catches
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uploaded by: michael sanders
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uploaded by: Charlie Pifer
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uploaded by: Russell Gray
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uploaded by: MAD MUSKY WATER SPORTS RENTALS Stacy Ellard Owner
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