SLO County Fishing Report — August 12, 2026
Wednesdaygauge Port San Luis / Morro Bay · NOAA 94121104 water bodies
Verdicts by place
Morro Bay offshore
FairSmall Craft Advisory today-Thursday, excellent weekend
Lake Nacimiento
Good~72-78°F
Bass: Good; Catfish: Excellent in 20-30 ft depth
Lopez Lake
Good~70-74°F
Bass: Good; Catfish: Excellent in evening using chicken liver or cut bait
Santa Margarita Lake
Good~72-76°F
Bass: Excellent, topwater action at dawn, deep structure midday; Trout: Stocked fish active near inlet areas
Tides for the day
| 4:41 AM low | -1.2 ft |
|---|---|
| 11:08 AM high | 4.4 ft |
| 4:11 PM low | 1.9 ft |
| 10:16 PM high | 6.5 ft |
- range
- 7.6 ft
- minus tide
- -1.2 ft
- sunrise
- 6:21 AM
- sunset
- 7:56 PM
Predictions from NOAA Tides & Currents. 14-day calendar →
Bite grid
excellentgoodfairslownoted
| Species | Santa Margarita | Lopez | Nacimiento | San Antonio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass | excellent | good | goodwhite | fair |
| Catfish | not reported | excellent | excellent | good |
| Trout | noted | slow | not reported | noted |
By water
from the report- Water Temp ~72-76°F (warm surface temps)
- Conditions Full pool, clear water
- Bass excellent Topwater action at dawn, deep structure midday
- Trout Stocked fish active near inlet areas
- Poppers
- walk-the-dog lures early; swim jigs midday
Full report3 min read ›
Small Craft Advisories continue today with fresh to strong northwest winds and rough seas. Conditions will gradually improve through the week with an excellent weekend outlook!
🏞️ Lake Fishing Reports
Santa Margarita Lake ⭐ (~101% Capacity - FULL)
The fullest reservoir in SLO County continues to provide excellent fishing:
- Water Temp: ~72-76°F (warm surface temps)
- Conditions: Full pool, clear water
- Bass: Excellent! Topwater action at dawn, deep structure midday
- Best Baits: Poppers, walk-the-dog lures early; swim jigs midday
- Trout: Stocked fish active near inlet areas
💡 Tip: With the lake at full capacity, all launch ramps are accessible. Focus on main lake points at first light.
Lopez Lake (~83% Capacity)
- Water Temp: ~70-74°F
- Conditions: Good clarity
- Bass: Good - target deeper structure as fish escape midday heat
- Catfish: Excellent in evening using chicken liver or cut bait
- Trout: Slow - water warming, fish holding deeper
Lake Nacimiento (~50% Capacity)
- Water Level: ~758 ft range
- Water Temp: ~72-78°F (warm, best early/late)
- Bass: Good - focus on shaded coves and creek arms
- Catfish: Excellent in 20-30 ft depth
- White Bass: Active near shad schools
⚠️ Note: Some launch ramps may have limited access due to lower water. Check conditions before heading out.
San Antonio Lake (~56% Capacity)
- Water Temp: ~70-74°F
- Bass: Fair - fish holding in deeper water during heat of day
- Catfish: Good action on shrimp and chicken liver
- Trout: Minimal - summer slowdown expected
🌊 Ocean Fishing: Morro Bay & Offshore
⚠️ Small Craft Advisory - Rough Seas Continue
A fresh to strong northwest wind flow continues across the coastal waters. Seas are rough at 8-11 feet but will gradually subside through Thursday. Excellent conditions expected by the weekend!
Current Conditions (Buoy 46011 - Point Conception)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Wind | NW 4-9 mph (2-4 m/s), gusts to 11 mph (5 m/s) |
| Wave Height | 3.6-4.3 ft (1.1-1.3 m) |
| Wave Period | 8-10 seconds |
| Water Temp | 65°F (18.3°C) |
| Air Temp | 61°F (16.2°C) |
NOAA Marine Forecast (Monterey Bay Area)
Today (Wednesday):
- Wind: NW 15-25 kt (Small Craft Advisory)
- Seas: 6-12 ft (NW 7-11 ft @ 8-9 sec, S 2 ft @ 14 sec)
- Visibility: Patchy dense fog early, smoke/haze along Big Sur coast
Tonight:
- Wind: NW 15-25 kt
- Seas: 8-11 ft
- Outlook: Rough - stay in
Thursday:
- Wind: NW 15-20 kt, easing to 10-15 kt afternoon
- Seas: 7-10 ft, gradually subsiding
- Note: Slight chance of evening showers
Friday:
- Wind: NW 10-15 kt
- Seas: 5-7 ft ⭐ Improving!
Weekend - Excellent!
- Saturday: NW 5-10 kt, seas 4-5 ft
- Sunday: NW 5-10 kt, seas around 4 ft
Fishing Notes
⚠️ Today-Thursday: Small Craft Advisory - rough seas 8-12 ft. Best to stay in or fish sheltered bays ✅ Friday: Conditions improving - good for offshore ⭐ Saturday-Sunday: Excellent conditions - flat seas, light winds!
🌊 Tides - Morro Bay (NOAA Station 9412110)
| Tide | Time (PDT) | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Low | ~4:42 AM | -1.2 ft |
| High | ~6:18 PM | 5.5 ft |
| Low | ~11:00 PM | 1.0 ft |
Tide Range: 6.7 ft - Moderate tidal movement
🌙 Solunar Times (August 12, 2026)
| Period | Time (PDT) |
|---|---|
| Major | 6:45 AM - 8:45 AM |
| Minor | 12:45 PM - 2:45 PM |
| Major | 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM |
| Minor | 1:15 AM - 3:15 AM |
Best Fishing Windows:
- Early morning (6:45-8:45 AM) ⭐
- Evening (7:30-9:30 PM)
Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous - High activity expected
📅 Week Ahead Outlook
Lakes
✅ Good conditions all week. Early morning topwater bites best before heat. Lake levels stable.
Ocean
⚠️ Today-Thursday: Small Craft Advisory - rough seas 8-12 ft. Check marine forecast before heading out ⚠️ Friday: Improving conditions - offshore trips possible ⭐ Saturday-Sunday: Excellent! Flat seas, light winds - perfect for offshore fishing
📊 Quick Reference
| Lake | Capacity | Temp | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Margarita | 101% | 72-76°F | ⭐ Excellent |
| Lopez | 83% | 70-74°F | ✅ Good |
| Nacimiento | 50% | 72-78°F | ✅ Good |
| San Antonio | 56% | 70-74°F | ⚠️ Fair |
Ocean (Morro Bay): ⚠️ Small Craft Advisory today-thursday, ⭐ excellent weekend
Report compiled August 12, 2026. Lake levels courtesy of SLO County Water District & historical data. Ocean data from NDBC Buoy 46011 and NOAA Marine Forecast FZUS56 KMTR. Tides from NOAA Station 9412110.