For November 9th in Wilmington, North Carolina, the fishing scene is looking promising, especially with the cooling water temperatures.

First, let's look at the tidal and weather conditions. Today, the sun rises at 7:33 AM and sets at 6:17 PM, giving us about 10 hours and 44 minutes of daylight. The tidal coefficient is high, indicating significant tidal movements, with the first high tide at 10:53 AM and the next at 9:58 PM. The low tides are at 4:58 AM and 5:41 PM[3].

As for the weather, be prepared for potentially windy conditions, though this can sometimes stir up the fish and make them more active.

Fish activity has been robust in the area. Red drum are plentiful, particularly in the 15-17 inch range, with some pushing into the mid-slot size. These fish can be found patrolling grass edges during higher water and moving to shell-covered drop-offs during low tides. Live or cut shrimp, scented soft plastics like Z-Man or Gulp shrimp, and topwater plugs such as MirrOlure Top Dog Jr’s are all effective lures[2].

Speckled trout are also active, hitting the same baits as the redfish. Look for them in areas with moving water, such as creek mouths or grass points. Topwater plugs, hard suspending lures, and soft plastics are all working well for trout[2].

Black drum are starting to show up in better numbers as the water cools down. Fresh or live shrimp on bottom rigs, especially around oyster bars, docks, and bridges, have been the best tactics for catching them[2].

Sheepshead are another target, particularly around docks near Snows Cut and hard structures in the Cape Fear River. Mud crabs or big fiddler crabs are the go-to baits for these fish[2].

For Spanish mackerel and bluefish, casting jigs or using high-speed spinning reels with small spoons like Big Nic Spanish candies can be very effective. These fish are often found around inlets, beaches, and nearshore artificial reefs[1].

Hot spots include the docks in the Intracoastal Waterway closer to the inlets, deeper creeks with grass banks and oyster beds, and shallow oyster bars. The Kure Beach Pier has also seen some larger sheepshead catches recently[2].

Overall, with the right tackle and knowledge of the tides, you should have a productive day on the water in Wilmington.