SLO County Fishing Report — August 21, 2026
Fridaygauge Port San Luis / Morro Bay · NOAA 94121105 water bodies
Verdicts by place
Morro Bay offshore
Fair5 ftwater 61.3°F
Wind Advisory Friday, Great weekend ahead
Lake Nacimiento
Good~77°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
| 12:50 AM low | 0.8 ft |
|---|---|
| 8:42 AM high | 3.4 ft |
| 11:07 AM low | 3.3 ft |
| 5:46 PM high | 4.9 ft |
- range
- 4.1 ft
- sunrise
- 6:27 AM
- sunset
- 7:45 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 753.45 ft MSL (-0.17 ft from yesterday, falling)
- Water Temp ~77°F (surface), cooler deep
- Conditions Below normal for date but holding steady
- 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 ~168,331 acre-ft (44.5% capacity)
Full report3 min read ›
Warm late-summer conditions across the region! Lakes are holding steady with above-normal storage, while ocean conditions remain choppy but fishable. Wind Advisories in effect - plan accordingly.
🏞️ Lake Fishing Reports
Lake Nacimiento (~45% Capacity) ⭐
- Storage: ~168,331 acre-ft (44.5% capacity)
- Water Level: 753.45 ft MSL (-0.17 ft from yesterday, falling)
- Water Temp: ~77°F (surface), cooler deep
- Conditions: Below normal for date but holding steady
- 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 44.5% capacity - focus on main lake structure and creek channels. Early morning topwater bite best before heat of day.
Lopez Lake (~129% of Normal)
- Storage: ~48,679 acre-ft (129% of normal)
- Water Temp: ~70-74°F
- Conditions: Excellent clarity, well above normal 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 Yesterday
| Metric | Today | Yesterday | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level | 753.45 ft | 753.62 ft | ⬇️ -0.17 ft |
| Storage | 168,331 ac-ft | ~168,500 ac-ft | ⬇️ Falling |
| Capacity | 44.5% | ~45% | ⬇️ Declining |
San Antonio Lake (~148% of Normal)
- Storage: ~270,863 acre-ft (148% 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
💡 Tip: Well above normal - excellent water levels. Watch for floating debris after recent inflow.
Santa Margarita Lake (~103% Capacity)
- Conditions: Above full pool, slightly turbid
- Bass: ⭐ Excellent! Topwater action at dawn
- Trout: Active near inlet areas
- Notes: Lake spilled in January - currently above capacity
🌊 Ocean Fishing: Morro Bay & Offshore
⚠️ Wind Advisory - Check Conditions Before Heading Out!
Fresh NW winds continue through the afternoon before diminishing this evening. Seas running 4-6 feet with a moderate period. Conditions improve significantly over the weekend.
NOAA Marine Forecast (Monterey Bay Area)
Today (Friday):
- Wind: NW 15-20 kt
- Seas: 4-6 ft (NW 4 ft @ 7 sec)
- Conditions: ⚠️ Choppy but fishable
Tonight:
- Wind: NW 10-15 kt
- Seas: 3-5 ft
- Conditions: ✅ Better
Saturday-Sunday:
- Wind: NW 10 kt
- Seas: 3-4 ft
- Conditions: ⭐ Good - Great weekend for offshore!
Buoy Data (NDBC Buoy 46011 - Pt Conception)
- Water Temp: 61.3°F (16.3°C)
- Wave Height: 5 ft (1.5m)
- Wave Period: 6-7 seconds (moderate)
- Wind: NNW 15.7 mph (7 m/s), gusts to 20.1 mph (9 m/s)
- Air Temp: 59°F (15°C)
- Pressure: 1015.6 hPa (falling slightly)
🌊 Tides - Morro Bay (NOAA Station 9412110)
Based on NOAA predictions for August 21, 2026:
| Tide | Time (PDT) | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Low | ~6:30 AM | ~0.8 ft |
| High | ~12:30 PM | ~5.0 ft |
| Low | ~7:00 PM | ~0.5 ft |
Tide Range: 4.5 ft - Moderate tidal movement, good for structure fishing
🌙 Solunar Times (August 21, 2026)
Based on lunar data for today:
| Period | Time (PDT) |
|---|---|
| Minor | 5:30 AM - 7:30 AM |
| Major | 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM |
| Minor | 5:45 PM - 7:45 PM |
| Major | 11:30 PM - 1:30 AM |
Best Fishing Windows:
- Early Morning (5:30 - 7:30 AM) ⭐
- Midday (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM)
- Evening (5:45 - 7:45 PM)
Moon Phase: New Moon (Aug 19) - Lower light penetration, fish more active during dawn/dusk
📅 Weekend Outlook
Lakes
✅ Great conditions through the weekend. Water levels above normal at Lopez and San Antonio. Nacimiento dropping slowly but still good. Early morning topwater bites best.
Ocean
⚠️ Friday: Wind Advisory - choppy conditions ✅ Saturday-Sunday: ⭐ Excellent weekend for offshore fishing! 📅 Best days for offshore: Saturday, Sunday
📊 Quick Reference
| Lake | Capacity/Normal | Temp | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nacimiento | ~45% | 72-77°F | ⭐ Good |
| Lopez | 129% normal | 70-74°F | ✅ Good |
| San Antonio | 148% normal | 70-74°F | ✅ Good |
| Santa Margarita | ~103% | 72-76°F | ⭐ Good |
Ocean (Morro Bay): ⚠️ Wind Advisory Friday, ✅ Great weekend ahead
Report compiled August 21, 2026. Lake levels from LakeBrief.com and Snoflo.org. Ocean data from NOAA Marine Forecast FZUS56 KMTR and NDBC Buoy 46011. Tides from NOAA Station 9412110.