SLO County Fishing Report — September 12, 2026

Saturday brings challenging ocean conditions with a Small Craft Advisory in effect. The lakes remain in good shape for fishing, though water levels continue their seasonal decline. If you're planning a fishing trip today, focus on lake fishing or wait for ocean conditions to improve early next week.

---

🏞️ Lake Fishing Reports

Lake Nacimiento (~49% Capacity) ⭐

• Storage: ~185,000 acre-ft (49% capacity, full pool = 800 ft MSL)
• Water Level: 747.81 ft MSL (+0.04 ft from yesterday, stable)
• Water Temp: ~74-78°F (surface), cooler deep
• Conditions: Below normal for date, typical late-summer drawdown
• Bass: ⭐ Good! Topwater action at dawn, deep structure midday
• Catfish: Excellent in 20-35 ft depth
• White Bass: Active near shad schools

💡 Tip: Lake is at 49% capacity - focus on main lake structure and creek channels. Early morning topwater bite best before heat of day. Night fishing picking up as temperatures cool!

---

Lopez Lake (~115% of Normal)

• Storage: ~43,500 acre-ft (115% of normal)
• Water Temp: ~68-72°F
• Conditions: Good clarity, 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: Most launch ramps accessible at current levels. Best fishing during low-light hours. Evening catfish bite is hot right now!

---

Lake Nacimiento vs Yesterday

Metric	Today	Yesterday	Trend
Level	747.81 ft	747.77 ft	➡️ +0.04 ft
Capacity	~49%	~49%	➡️ Stable
Condition	Stable	Falling	➡️ Stabilizing

---

San Antonio Lake (~140% of Normal)

• Storage: ~255,000 acre-ft (140% of normal)
• Water Temp: ~68-72°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. Night fishing productive!

---

Santa Margarita Lake (~100% Capacity)

• Conditions: At full pool, good clarity
• Bass: ⭐ Good! Topwater action at dawn
• Trout: Active near inlet areas
• Notes: All launch ramps accessible

---

🌊 Ocean Fishing: Morro Bay & Offshore

⚠️ Small Craft Advisory In Effect

A Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Sunday morning. Conditions are hazardous for small vessels. Consider postponing ocean trips or exercising extreme caution if heading out.

Current Ocean Conditions (Morro Bay Area)

• Water Temp: 65.5°F (18.6°C) - from NDBC Buoy 46011 (Pt Conception)
• Wave Height: 5-6 ft (1.5 m) - moderate swell
• Wave Period: 14 seconds - decent interval
• Swell Direction: NW (330°) - typical summer swell
• Wind: NW at 13-16 mph (6-7 m/s) - strong winds
• Air Temp: ~63°F (17°C)
• Conditions: ⚠️ Small Craft Advisory - use caution

Outlook: NW winds 15-25 kt today, seas 5-9 ft. Advisory continues through Sunday morning. Conditions should improve by Monday.

---

🌊 Tides - Morro Bay (NOAA Station 9412110)

Based on NOAA predictions for September 12, 2026:

Tide	Time (PDT)	Height
Low	~5:18 AM	~0.63 ft
High	~12:06 PM	~5.0 ft
Low	~5:54 PM	~0.65 ft

Tide Range: ~4.4 ft - Moderate tidal movement, good for structure fishing

---

🌙 Solunar Times (September 12, 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	11:45 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: Last Quarter (~50% illumination) - Good light penetration, fish actively feeding

---

📅 Week Outlook

Lakes

✅ Great conditions for lake fishing! Water levels stable, early morning topwater bites excellent. Night fishing picking up as temperatures cool. Focus on Lopez and San Antonio for higher water levels.

Ocean

⚠️ Small Craft Advisory - Exercise caution or postpone trips. Conditions improve early next week with seas subsiding Monday and Tuesday.

---

📊 Quick Reference

Lake	Capacity/Normal	Temp	Rating
Nacimiento	~49%	74-78°F	⭐ Good
Lopez	115% normal	68-72°F	✅ Good
San Antonio	140% normal	68-72°F	✅ Good
Santa Margarita	~100%	72-76°F	⭐ Good

Ocean (Morro Bay): ⚠️ Caution - Small Craft Advisory, seas 5-9 ft

---

Report compiled September 12, 2026. Lake levels from US Lakes Info and historical data. Ocean data from NOAA Marine Forecast and NDBC Buoy 46011. Tides from NOAA Station 9412110.