If you're heading out to fish in the Wilmington, North Carolina area today, November 2, 2024, here's what you can expect:

First off, the weather is cooling down, which is great news for fishing. The sunrise is at 7:19 AM, and the sunset will be at 6:34 PM, giving you a good window of daylight.

Tide-wise, we're looking at a high tidal coefficient, which means big tides and strong currents. The first low tide was at 4:15 AM, and the next low tide will be at 4:54 PM. The first high tide is at 9:58 AM, and the next high tide at 10:20 PM. These strong tides can stir up the fish, making them more active.

Speaking of fish activity, today is an excellent day for fishing according to the solunar theory, with very high fish activity forecasted.

In terms of the types of fish, redfish are biting well with the cooler weather. You can expect to find schools of redfish, especially in shallow waters around areas like Wrightsville Beach, Topsail Island, and the flats near Wilmington. Speckled trout are also showing up in the creeks, with most of these early season fish ranging from 12 to 19 inches. Spanish mackerel are active as well, particularly when casting to feeding surface fish or trolling with Clark spoons.

For redfish, sight fishing is excellent this time of year due to clear water. Use a 7 or 8 weight fly rod with a floating line, such as the Rio Flats Pro line, and a leader of about 10-12 feet including the tippet. Choose flies based on water color; for tanic and muddy bottoms, go with darker flies like black, purple, or dark brown, while clear and sandy bottoms call for tan or white flies.

If you prefer traditional bait, cut shrimp works well for black drum, which can be found on docks and flats. For redfish, artificial lures that mimic baitfish or shrimp can be very effective.

Hot spots include the creeks around Wrightsville Beach for speckled trout, and the shallow waters and flats near Topsail Island and Wilmington for redfish. Masonboro Island is also a great spot, offering a variety of fish species and habitats.

Overall, with the right gear and knowledge of the tides and fish behavior, you're in for a great day of fishing in the Wilmington area.