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Should I Fish Wilmington, NC This Week?

GO

Yes—the best time to fish Wilmington this week is Thursday 5:00 am–7:00 am, on the outgoing tide + minor solunar + low light. Should I Fish? rates Thursday a GO. (Updated Tuesday, September 1.)

Updated 11:04 pm ET

Tides & fishability—next 3 days

TODAY78GO
WED 9/276GO
THU 9/388GO
TODAYbite 3a–5aWED 9/2bite 4p–7pTHU 9/3bite 5a–7a4.7 ft · 12:07a0.1 ft · 7:11a5.0 ft · 12:31p0.6 ft · 7:58p4.5 ft · 12:55a0.1 ft · 7:54a5.0 ft · 1:26p0.8 ft · 8:56p4.4 ft · 1:56a0.2 ft · 8:44a5.0 ft · 2:37p0.9 ft · 10:01p12a6a12p6p12a6a12p6p12a6a12p6p12a

Curve height is tide level—curve color is how good the fishing should be. Green means go.

Today’s high & low tides—Wilmington, NC
Time ETTideHeight (ft)
12:07 amHigh4.67
7:11 amLow0.09
12:31 pmHigh4.96
7:58 pmLow0.62

Today’s Solunar & Tide Almanac—Wilmington

Solunar times
Major2:45 am – 5:45 am
Minor10:32 am – 12:02 pm
Major3:10 pm – 6:10 pm
Minor9:11 pm – 10:41 pm

Major periods are the moon overhead or underfoot—minors are moonrise and moonset. They feed the score’s solunar factor.

Sun & moon
Sunrise6:45 am
Sunset7:37 pm
Moonrise9:56 pm
Moonset11:17 am
MoonWaning gibbous · 78%
Water temp87°F
Tide strength
Today113% · spring tide

Strong spring tide today—currents running about 113% of this station's monthly peak. More moving water, more feeding.

Fishing Weather—Next 3 Days

Today
73°–91°F
rain 5%
wind 1–7 kn
Wed 9/2
76°–93°F
rain 10%
wind 1–9 kn
Thu 9/3
76°–91°F
rain 3%
wind 2–8 kn

Plan your trip—Wilmington

Today78GObite 3a–5a
Wed 9/276GObite 4p–7p
Thu 9/388GObite 5a–7a

Tide data: NOAA station Wilmington (8658120).

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is high tide in Wilmington today?

High tide in Wilmington, NC today (Tuesday, September 1) is at 12:07 am, at 4.7 ft.

What's the best tide to fish in Wilmington?

Moving water beats slack water in Wilmington—fish feed hardest while the tide is actively rising or falling, not at the still point at the top or bottom. The outgoing tide gets a slight edge here by default. Today (Tuesday, September 1), that lines up 3:00 am–5:00 am, driven by outgoing tide + minor solunar.

When is the best time of day to fish in Wilmington?

Dawn and dusk are the strongest light windows in Wilmington, and they carry extra weight when a solunar period (moon overhead, underfoot, rising, or setting) lines up with them. Today (Tuesday, September 1), that combination points to 3:00 am–5:00 am.

Should I fish Wilmington tomorrow?

Should I Fish? rates tomorrow (Wednesday, September 2) in Wilmington a GO at 76/100—best window 4:00 pm–7:00 pm.

What time should I fish Wilmington?

Fish Wilmington today (Tuesday, September 1) from 3:00 am to 5:00 am—that's the strongest scored window. Outside it, dawn and dusk on moving water are the default best bets.

Do I need a license to fish in NC?

Yes—saltwater fishing in North Carolina requires a NC Coastal Recreational Fishing License. You can get one through the state agency listed below.

NC Coastal Recreational Fishing License →

Nearby Fishing Forecasts

See the full Wilmington tide chart →