Wilmington Stripers and Specs Heat Up This April Weekend

Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing bud from right here in Wilmington, NC, comin' atcha with the fresh report for Saturday, April 4th, 2026. Dawn's breakin' early at 6:52 AM, sun sets 'round 7:29 PM, givin' us a solid 12.5 hours of light to chase the bite. Weather's lookin' prime—mild 70s daytime, light southerly breeze off the Cape Fear, water temps pushin' low 60s from that warm spell. Tides are risin' slow this mornin', high around 3:25 PM near 1.1 ft at the inlet per Tides4Fishing charts, with solunar peaks makin' it a high-activity day—fish gonna be feedin' heavy 'round noon to 3 PM.

Action's heatin' up in our waters, echoin' that Northeast striper surge from On The Water reports—holdovers and migrants pushin' into the Cape Fear River and sounds. Locals been pullin' limits of **schoolie stripers** (18-28 inches), slot reds, speckled trout up to 4 pounds, and flounder in the 1-3 lb range. Yesterday's weigh-ins at the marina showed 20+ stripers, a dozen trout, and fat specks on cut bait. Fish activity's peakin' on the flood tide as bait schools—mullet, shrimp, menhaden—pile in.

Best bets? Live shrimp or **mullet chunks** for bottom rigs on trout and flounder—can't beat 'em free-lined off the flats. For lures, **soft plastics** like paddletails in chartreuse or white on 1/4-oz jigheads are killin' stripers 'round structure; bloodworm-imitation grubs or small plugs for the linesides hittin' sod banks and bridges. Topwater mirrolures at dawn/dusk if they slap.

Hit these **hot spots**: Wrightsville Beach cut—troll the inlet for stripers; or Masonboro Island flats for reds and trout wadin' the shallows. Stay safe, check regs, and wear your PFD.

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