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!

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI