SLO County Fishing Report — August 17, 2026
Mondaygauge Port San Luis / Morro Bay · NOAA 94121105 water bodies
Verdicts by place
Morro Bay offshore
Fair4–5 ftwater 65.3°F
Wind Advisory mid-week
Lake Nacimiento
Good~72-78°F
Bass: Excellent, topwater action at dawn, deep structure midday; 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
GoodBass: Excellent, topwater action at dawn; Trout: Active near inlet areas
Tides for the day
| 1:39 AM high | 4.1 ft |
|---|---|
| 7:31 AM low | 1.4 ft |
| 2:05 PM high | 5.1 ft |
| 8:55 PM low | 1.3 ft |
- range
- 3.8 ft
- sunrise
- 6:24 AM
- sunset
- 7:50 PM
Predictions from NOAA Tides & Currents. 14-day calendar →
Bite grid
excellentgoodfairslownoted
| Species | Nacimiento | Lopez | San Antonio | Santa Margarita | Morro Bay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass | excellentwhite | good | good | excellent | not reported |
| Catfish | excellent | excellent | excellent | not reported | not reported |
| Trout | not reported | slow | noted | noted | not reported |
By water
from the report- Water Level 754.40 ft MSL (+0.05 ft from yesterday)
- Water Temp ~72-78°F (warm, best early/late)
- Conditions Excellent - above normal water levels
- Bass excellent Topwater action at dawn, deep structure midday
- Catfish excellent In 20-30 ft depth
- White Bass Active near shad schools
None listed.
- Storage ~287,000 acre-ft (110% of normal)
Full report3 min read ›
Windy conditions developing across the region! Lakes remain in excellent shape with above-normal water levels, while ocean conditions will deteriorate mid-week. Plan your offshore trips for early week.
🏞️ Lake Fishing Reports
Lake Nacimiento (~76% Capacity) ⭐
- Storage: ~287,000 acre-ft (110% of normal)
- Water Level: 754.40 ft MSL (+0.05 ft from yesterday)
- Water Temp: ~72-78°F (warm, best early/late)
- Conditions: Excellent - above normal water levels
- Bass: ⭐ Excellent! Topwater action at dawn, deep structure midday
- Catfish: Excellent in 20-30 ft depth
- White Bass: Active near shad schools
💡 Tip: Lake is 110% of normal - excellent fishing conditions. Focus on main lake points and creek arms at first light for best action.
Lopez Lake (~90% Capacity)
- Storage: ~48,000+ acre-ft (well above normal)
- Water Temp: ~70-74°F
- Conditions: Good clarity, excellent water levels
- 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
💡 Tip: All launch ramps accessible at current levels. Best fishing during low-light hours.
Lake Nacimiento vs Last Week
| Metric | This Week | Last Week | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storage | ~287,000 ac-ft | ~285,000 ac-ft | ⬆️ +2,000 ac-ft |
| % Normal | 110% | 109% | ⬆️ Stable |
| Level Change | +0.05 ft | - | ⬆️ Rising |
San Antonio Lake (~78% Capacity)
- Storage: ~275,000 acre-ft (150% of normal!)
- Water Temp: ~70-74°F
- Bass: Good - focus on deeper structure during midday
- Catfish: Excellent on shrimp and chicken liver
- Trout: Minimal - summer slowdown
Santa Margarita Lake (~95% Capacity)
- Conditions: Near full pool, clear water
- Bass: ⭐ Excellent! Topwater action at dawn
- Trout: Active near inlet areas
🌊 Ocean Fishing: Morro Bay & Offshore
⚠️ Wind Advisory Late Week - Fish Early!
A fresh to strong breeze develops by late tonight and continues through the week. Seas build to 7-9 feet by Tuesday and Wednesday before abating late week. A long period southerly swell (14-15 seconds) continues to subside.
NOAA Marine Forecast (Monterey Bay Area)
Today (Monday):
- Wind: NW 10-15 kt
- Seas: 5-6 ft (NW 5 ft @ 7 sec, S 3 ft @ 15 sec)
- Conditions: ⭐ Good
Tonight:
- Wind: NW 15-20 kt
- Seas: 5-7 ft (NW 7 ft @ 7 sec)
- Conditions: ⚠️ Rough
Tuesday:
- Wind: NW 15-20 kt
- Seas: 6-7 ft (NW 7 ft @ 7 sec)
- Conditions: ⚠️ Rough
Tuesday Night-Wednesday:
- Wind: NW 20-25 kt
- Seas: 6-9 ft
- Conditions: ⚠️ Small Craft Advisory - Stay In
Thursday-Friday:
- Wind: NW 15-20 kt
- Seas: 6-8 ft
- Conditions: ⚠️ Still rough, check conditions
Buoy Data (NDBC Buoy 46011 - Pt Conception)
- Water Temp: 65.3°F (18.5°C)
- Wave Height: 4-5 ft
- Wave Period: 15 seconds (long period swell)
- Wind: NW 14-18 mph (6-8 m/s)
- Air Temp: 61°F (16°C)
🌊 Tides - Morro Bay (NOAA Station 9412110)
| Tide | Time (PDT) | Height |
|---|---|---|
| High | ~1:30 AM | 4.9 ft |
| Low | ~7:00 AM | 0.9 ft |
| High | ~2:15 PM | 5.1 ft |
| Low | ~8:15 PM | 0.6 ft |
Tide Range: 4.5 ft - Moderate tidal movement
🌙 Solunar Times (August 17, 2026)
| Period | Time (PDT) |
|---|---|
| Minor | 6:00 AM - 8:00 AM |
| Major | 11:45 AM - 1:45 PM |
| Minor | 6:15 PM - 8:15 PM |
| Major | 12:00 AM - 2:00 AM |
Best Fishing Windows:
- Morning (11:45 AM - 1:45 PM) ⭐
- Evening (6:15 - 8:15 PM)
Moon Phase: Last Quarter - Good activity expected
📅 Week Ahead Outlook
Lakes
✅ Great conditions all week. Water levels above normal at all lakes. Early morning topwater bites best before heat. Nacimiento rising slightly.
Ocean
⚠️ Monday: Good conditions - fish early ⚠️ Tuesday-Wednesday: Small Craft Advisory - stay in port ⚠️ Thursday-Friday: Conditions improve but still choppy 📅 Best days for offshore: Monday, Friday
📊 Quick Reference
| Lake | Capacity | Temp | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nacimiento | ~76% (110% normal) | 72-78°F | ⭐ Excellent |
| Lopez | ~90% | 70-74°F | ✅ Good |
| San Antonio | ~78% (150% normal) | 70-74°F | ✅ Good |
| Santa Margarita | ~95% | 72-76°F | ⭐ Excellent |
Ocean (Morro Bay): ⚠️ Wind Advisory mid-week
Report compiled August 17, 2026. Lake levels from US Lakes Network. Ocean data from NOAA Marine Forecast FZUS56 KMTR and NDBC Buoy 46011. Tides from NOAA Station 9412110.