Journal • SLO County Fishing Report — September 5, 2026

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SLO County Fishing Report — September 5, 2026

Saturdaygauge Port San Luis / Morro Bay · NOAA 94121105 places

There is a newer report: SLO County Fishing Report — November 15, 2026 →

Verdicts by place

  • Morro Bay offshore

    Fair

    6–7 ftNW 10–15 kt

    Seas 4-6 ft with a NW 10-15 kt afternoon wind; use caution

  • Lake Nacimiento

    Good

    749.4 ft39% capacity

    Bass: Excellent, topwater action at dawn, deep structure midday; Catfish: Excellent in 20-35 ft depth

  • Lopez Lake

    Good

    511.4 ft81% capacity

    Bass: Good; Catfish: Excellent in evening using chicken liver or cut bait

  • Santa Margarita Lake

    Good

    Bass: Excellent, topwater action at dawn; Trout: Active near inlet areas

Port San Luis / Morro Bay · NOAA 9412110 · ft MLLW · Pacific time

Tides for the day

-1 ft0 ft1 ft2 ft3 ft4 ft5 ft6 ft7 ft12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM12:16 AM · 0.1 ft7:45 AM · 3.5 ft10:53 AM · 3.3 ft5:22 PM · 5.7 ft
NOAA high and low tides
12:16 AM low0.1 ft
7:45 AM high3.5 ft
10:53 AM low3.3 ft
5:22 PM high5.7 ft
range
5.6 ft
sunrise
6:39 AM
sunset
7:25 PM

Predictions from NOAA Tides & Currents. 14-day calendar →

Bite grid

excellentgoodfairslownoted

SpeciesNacimientoLopezSan AntonioSanta MargaritaMorro Bay
Bassexcellentwhitegoodgoodexcellentnot reported
Catfishexcellentexcellentexcellentnot reportednot reported
Troutnot reportedslownotednotednot reported

By water

from the report
Water
  • Water Level 749.4 ft, 148,894 AF (39% of capacity), CDEC NCM, Sep 5.
  • Conditions Below normal for date, typical late-summer drawdown
What's biting
  • Bass excellent Topwater at dawn, deep structure midday
  • Catfish excellent In 20-35 ft
  • White Bass Active near shad schools
Lures & bait

None listed.

Marine forecast

seaswindas written in the report

  1. Todaylighter
    seas
    4–6 ft
    wind
    NW 10–15 kt

    NW 10-15 kt this afternoon, light winds this morning

  2. Tonightlighter
    seas
    4–6 ft
    wind
    NW 10–15 kt

    easing to 5-10 kt after midnight

  3. Sunday
    seas
    5–7 ft
    wind
    NW 15–25 kt

    NW 15-25 kt in the afternoon, 10-15 kt in the morning

  4. Monday
    seas
    5–7 ft
    wind
    NW 15–20 kt

    NW 15-20 kt in the afternoon, N 5-10 kt in the morning

Full report2 min read ›

The lakes are down to late-summer levels on this Saturday but still fishing well. The ocean is workable, with 4-6 ft seas.

Lake Fishing Reports

Lake Nacimiento

  • Water Level: 749.4 ft, 148,894 AF (39% of capacity), CDEC NCM, Sep 5.
  • Conditions: Below normal for date, typical late-summer drawdown
  • Bass: Excellent. Topwater at dawn, deep structure midday
  • Catfish: Excellent in 20-35 ft
  • White Bass: Active near shad schools

Tip: With the lake at 39%, fish main-lake structure and creek channels. Topwater is best early, before the heat, and night fishing is picking up.

Lopez Lake

  • Water Level: 511.4 ft, 39,761 AF (81% of capacity), CDEC LOP, Sep 5.
  • Conditions: Good clarity, below full pool
  • Bass: Good.
  • Catfish: Excellent in the evening on chicken liver or cut bait
  • Trout: Slow - water warming, fish holding deeper

Tip: Some launch ramps may be limited at current levels. The evening catfish bite is the best thing going here.

San Antonio Lake

  • Storage: 740.7 ft, 163,466 AF (49% of capacity), CDEC ATN, Sep 5.
  • Bass: Good - focus on deeper structure during midday
  • Catfish: Excellent on shrimp and chicken liver
  • Trout: Minimal - summer slowdown

Tip: Night fishing is productive here.

Santa Margarita Lake

  • Conditions: Excellent
  • Bass: Excellent. Topwater at dawn
  • Trout: Active near inlet areas

Ocean Fishing: Morro Bay & Offshore

Patriot Sportfishing (Sep 4): Flying Fish, 1/2 day, 20 anglers: 197 rockcod, 3 lingcod, 2 red rockcod, 1 copper rockfish.

Morro Bay Landing (Sep 4): Endeavor, 3/4 day, 15 anglers: 120 rockfish, 16 bocaccio, 12 copper rockfish, 2 red rockfish.

Counts: SportfishingReport.com dock totals, Sep 4.

Current Ocean Conditions (Morro Bay Area)

  • Wave Height: 6-7 ft (1.8-2.1 m) - moderate swell
  • Wave Period: 9-10 seconds
  • Swell Direction: NW/W (280-290°)
  • Wind: NW 10-15 kt (12-17 mph)
  • Conditions: Use caution

Nearshore rockfish are worth a try when the wind allows.

Marine forecast

Today: NW 10-15 kt this afternoon, light winds this morning, seas 4-6 ft Tonight: NW 10-15 kt, easing to 5-10 kt after midnight, seas 4-6 ft Sunday: NW 15-25 kt in the afternoon, 10-15 kt in the morning, seas 5-7 ft Monday: NW 15-20 kt in the afternoon, N 5-10 kt in the morning, seas 5-7 ft

NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard, zone PZZ645 (Point Piedras Blancas to Point Sal), issued 211 AM PDT Sat Sep 5 2026.

Sources: lake levels from CDEC (NCM, LOP, ATN).

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