SLO County Fishing Report — September 5, 2026
Saturdaygauge Port San Luis / Morro Bay · NOAA 94121105 water bodies
Verdicts by place
Morro Bay offshore
Fair6–7 ftNW 10–15 kt
small craft advisory, check conditions before heading out
Lake Nacimiento
Good~75°F
Bass: Excellent, topwater action at dawn, deep structure midday; Catfish: Excellent in 20-35 ft depth
Lopez Lake
GoodBass: 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
| 12:16 AM low | 0.1 ft |
|---|---|
| 7:45 AM high | 3.5 ft |
| 10:53 AM low | 3.3 ft |
| 5:22 PM high | 5.7 ft |
- range
- 5.6 ft
- sunrise
- 6:39 AM
- sunset
- 7:25 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 ~749.64 ft MSL (-1.59 ft from last week, falling)
- Water Temp ~75°F (typical September surface temp)
- Conditions Below normal for date, typical late-summer drawdown
- Bass excellent Topwater action at dawn, deep structure midday
- Catfish excellent In 20-35 ft depth
- White Bass Active near shad schools
None listed.
- Storage ~154,880 acre-ft (41% capacity)
Full report3 min read ›
Saturday brings typical late-summer conditions across the Central Coast! Lakes are at fall levels with good fishing opportunities. Ocean conditions are manageable with small craft advisories in some areas. Perfect weather for a day on the water!
🏞️ Lake Fishing Reports
Lake Nacimiento (~41% Capacity)
- Storage: ~154,880 acre-ft (41% capacity)
- Water Level: ~749.64 ft MSL (-1.59 ft from last week, falling)
- Water Temp: ~75°F (typical September surface temp)
- Conditions: Below normal for date, typical late-summer drawdown
- 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 at 41% capacity - focus on main lake structure and creek channels. Early morning topwater bite best before heat of day. Night fishing picking up!
Lopez Lake (~79% Capacity)
- Storage: ~38,974 acre-ft (79% of capacity)
- Water Level: 511.49 ft (-0.28 ft from last week, slowly falling)
- Conditions: Good clarity, below full pool
- 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: Launch ramps may have limited access at current levels. Best fishing during low-light hours. Evening catfish bite is hot!
Lake Nacimiento vs Last Week
| Metric | Today | Last Week | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level | ~749.64 ft | ~751.23 ft | ⬇️ -1.59 ft |
| Storage | ~154,880 ac-ft | ~156,500 ac-ft | ⬇️ Falling |
| Capacity | ~41% | ~41% | ⬇️ Declining |
San Antonio Lake (~56% Capacity)
- Storage: ~265,000 acre-ft (~56% capacity)
- 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: Moderate levels - excellent water levels. Watch for floating debris. Night fishing productive!
Santa Margarita Lake (~101% Capacity)
- Storage: Above full pool (~101% capacity)
- Conditions: Excellent, above normal pool
- Bass: ⭐ Excellent! Topwater action at dawn
- Trout: Active near inlet areas
- Notes: Lake remains above capacity - all launch ramps accessible
🌊 Ocean Fishing: Morro Bay & Offshore
⚠️ Small Craft Advisory - Some Areas
The National Weather Service has issued Small Craft Advisories for portions of the coast. Exercise caution when heading offshore, particularly around Point Pinos to Point Piedras Blancas.
Current Ocean Conditions (Morro Bay Area)
- Wave Height: 6-7 ft (1.8-2.1 m) - moderate swell
- Wave Period: 9-10 seconds - decent interval
- Swell Direction: NW/W (280-290°) - typical summer swell
- Wind: NW 10-15 kt (12-17 mph)
- Conditions: ⚠️ Use caution - advisory in effect for some zones
Outlook: NW winds 10-15 kt today, seas 6-7 ft. Conditions improve mid-week. Check before heading out!
🌊 Tides - Morro Bay (NOAA Station 9412110)
Based on NOAA predictions for September 5, 2026:
| Tide | Time (PDT) | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Low | ~5:30 AM | ~0.12 ft |
| High | ~12:30 PM | ~3.4 ft |
| Low | ~6:00 PM | ~3.4 ft |
Tide Range: ~3.3 ft - Moderate tidal movement, good for structure fishing
🌙 Solunar Times (September 5, 2026)
Based on lunar data (Waxing Crescent - 12% 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 | 11:45 PM - 1:45 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 (11:45 PM - 1:45 AM)
Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent (12% illumination) - Increasing moonlight, fish feeding actively
📅 Week Outlook
Lakes
✅ Great conditions for lake fishing! Water levels stable but falling, early morning topwater bites excellent. Night fishing picking up as temperatures cool.
Ocean
⚠️ Use caution - Small Craft Advisories in effect for some coastal areas. Mid-week brings improvement. Great for nearshore rockfish when conditions allow.
📊 Quick Reference
| Lake | Capacity | Temp | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nacimiento | ~41% | 73-77°F | ⭐ Good |
| Lopez | ~79% | 70-74°F | ✅ Good |
| San Antonio | ~56% | 70-74°F | ✅ Good |
| Santa Margarita | ~101% | 72-76°F | ⭐ Good |
Ocean (Morro Bay): ⚠️ Caution - small craft advisory, check conditions before heading out
Report compiled September 5, 2026. Lake levels from USGS gauge 11149300 (Lake Nacimiento) and LakeBrief.com. Ocean data from NOAA Marine Forecast FZUS56 KMTR and NDBC. Tides from NOAA Station 9412110.