Cape Fear River Spring Spawn: Bass Beds Active, Crappie Moving, Reds Biting

Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing and angling expert right here in Wilmington, NC. It's early morning on April 25, 2026, and the Cape Fear River's callin'—water temps hoverin' in the upper 60s, perfect for the spawn kickin' off.

Tides today: High at 9:17 AM and 9:42 PM, low at 3:28 AM and 4:12 PM per Fishing Reminder charts. Weather's mild—partly cloudy, highs near 75°F, light southerly breeze around 8 mph, no rain in sight. Sunrise at 6:37 AM, sunset 7:52 PM, givin' us prime twilight bites.

Fish are active, folks! Recent reports show largemouth bass stackin' up shallow under 5 feet near shorelines, beds formin'—males cleanin' nests. Crappie on the post-spawn move, hangin' offshore brush and creek channels. Bluegill heatin' up around old spawn sites, thinkin' beds soon. Redfish and speckled trout chewin' in the estuaries, with kings and cobia showin' offshore like in nearby Navarre reports.

Catches last few days: Quality bass on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs, soft plastic worms—match the hatch with shad colors. Crappie limits via minnows, jigs, even trollin' crankbaits. Bluegill slammin' worms under slip bobbers or micro jigs like Fin Spins. Reds hittin' live shrimp or paddle tails.

Best lures: **Crankbaits and soft plastics** for bass; jigs and minnows for crappie. Top baits: Live shrimp, worms, mullet chunks. Fish incoming tides hard.

Hot spots: Banks of the Northeast Cape Fear River for bass/crappie, and Wrightsville Beach jetties for reds and specks—easy access, loaded now.

Rig up and hit the water—it's prime time!

Thanks for tunin' in, y'all—subscribe for more reports! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

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