SLO County Fishing Report — September 1, 2026

Tuesday brings calm ocean conditions with gentle westerly breezes and a long period southerly swell from tropical cyclone activity. Lakes are stable with typical late-summer water levels. Great start to September fishing!

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🏞️ Lake Fishing Reports

Lake Nacimiento (~42% Capacity)

• Storage: 158,356 acre-ft (41.9% capacity)
• Water Level: 750.64 ft MSL (-0.17 ft from yesterday, falling)
• Water Temp: ~75°F (surface), cooler deep
• Conditions: Below normal for date, typical late-summer decline
• Bass: ⭐ Excellent! Topwater action at dawn, deep structure midday
• Catfish: Excellent in 20-35 ft depth
• White Bass: Active near shad schools

💡 Tip: Lake is around 42% capacity - focus on main lake structure and creek channels. Early morning topwater bite best before heat of day. Night fishing picking up!

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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. Evening catfish bite is hot right now!

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Lake Nacimiento vs Yesterday

Metric	Today	Yesterday	Trend
Level	750.64 ft	750.81 ft	⬇️ -0.17 ft
Storage	158,356 ac-ft	~158,500 ac-ft	⬇️ Falling
Capacity	41.9%	~42%	⬇️ Declining

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San Antonio Lake (~42% Capacity)

• Storage: 128,320 acre-ft (42.1% capacity)
• Water Level: 741.03 ft MSL (-0.05 ft from yesterday, falling)
• Water Temp: ~75°F
• Bass: Good - focus on deeper structure during midday
• Catfish: Excellent on shrimp and chicken liver
• Trout: Minimal - summer slowdown

💡 Tip: Water levels stable but below average. Watch for floating debris. Night fishing productive!

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Santa Margarita Lake (~Above Capacity)

• Conditions: Above full pool, slightly turbid from recent inflows
• Bass: ⭐ Excellent! Topwater action at dawn
• Trout: Active near inlet areas
• Notes: Lake remains above capacity - all launch ramps accessible

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🌊 Ocean Fishing: Morro Bay & Offshore

✅ Calm Conditions - Great for Fishing

Gentle westerly to northwesterly breezes continue today with intermittent periods of moderate winds. A long period southerly swell from tropical cyclone activity is affecting the coast, but seas remain manageable.

Current Ocean Conditions (Morro Bay Area)

• Water Temp: 62.8°F (17.1°C) - from NDBC Buoy 46011
• Wave Height: 3-4 ft (1.1m)
• Wave Period: 8-14 seconds - long interval from the south
• Swell Direction: NW (dominant) + S (long period)
• Wind: NNW-N at 5-13 mph (2-6 m/s)
• Air Temp: ~61-62°F (16-17°C)
• Conditions: ✅ Good for fishing - calm winds, manageable seas

Outlook: SW winds 5-10 kt today, seas 4-5 ft - excellent conditions for both nearshore rockfish and offshore trips!

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🌊 Tides - Morro Bay (NOAA Station 9412110)

Based on NOAA predictions for September 1, 2026:

Tide	Time (PDT)	Height
Low	~7:10 AM	~1.42 m (4.7 ft)
High	~2:00 PM	~4.47 m (14.7 ft)
Low	~9:27 PM	~0.85 m (2.8 ft)

Tide Range: ~12 ft - Large tidal movement, excellent for structure fishing

Note: Early morning high tide at 1:59 AM (2.95m/9.7 ft) - great for pre-dawn fishing!

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🌙 Solunar Times (September 1, 2026)

Based on lunar data (Last Quarter Moon - 50% illumination):

Period	Time (PDT)
Minor	5:15 AM - 7:15 AM
Major	11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Minor	5:45 PM - 7:45 PM
Major	11:30 PM - 1:30 AM

Best Fishing Windows:

• Early Morning (5:15 - 7:15 AM) ⭐
• Midday (11:30 AM - 1:30 PM)
• Evening (5:45 - 7:45 PM)
• Late Night (11:30 PM - 1:30 AM)

Moon Phase: Last Quarter (50% illumination) - Good light penetration, fish actively feeding during low-light periods

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📅 Week Outlook

Lakes

✅ Great conditions for lake fishing! Water levels stable, early morning topwater bites excellent. Night fishing picking up as temperatures cool. Bass and catfish both active.

Ocean

✅ Excellent conditions! Calm winds, manageable seas, great for both nearshore rockfish and offshore salmon/tuna trips. Large tidal range today provides excellent feeding opportunities.

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📊 Quick Reference

Lake	Capacity/Normal	Temp	Rating
Nacimiento	~42%	~75°F	⭐ Good
Lopez	129% normal	70-74°F	✅ Good
San Antonio	~42%	~75°F	✅ Good
Santa Margarita	Above capacity	72-76°F	⭐ Good

Ocean (Morro Bay): ✅ Excellent - calm winds, good seas, offshore fishing great!

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Report compiled September 1, 2026. Lake levels from USGS gauges via Lakebrief.com. Ocean data from Open-Meteo Marine API, NOAA Marine Forecast (FZUS56 KMTR), and NDBC Buoy 46011. Tides from NOAA Station 9412110 via TideTime.org. Solunar times calculated for lunar data.