SLO County Fishing Report — September 30, 2026

Wednesday brings improving ocean conditions as the fall storm system begins to exit. Gale warnings have expired but small craft advisories remain in effect through tonight. Expect rough seas today, with conditions steadily improving through the week. Lake fishing remains excellent with stable water levels and comfortable temperatures for all-day action!

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🏞️ Lake Fishing Reports

Lake Nacimiento ⭐

• Storage: ~152,000 acre-ft (estimated ~40% capacity)
• Water Level: ~745 ft MSL (slightly declining, typical late-summer drawdown)
• Water Temp: ~70-74°F (surface), cooler deep
• Conditions: Typical late-summer level, stable
• 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 40% capacity - focus on main lake structure and creek channels. Early morning topwater bite is hot! Night fishing also productive as temps cool. Try diving plugs in 15-25 ft during midday.

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Lopez Lake (~125% of Normal)

• Storage: ~47,000 acre-ft (125% of normal)
• Water Temp: ~66-70°F
• Conditions: Excellent clarity, well above normal water levels
• Bass: Good - target deeper structure during 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 excellent right now! Try anchored bottom fishing in 25-35 ft.

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Lake Nacimiento vs Yesterday

Metric	Today	Yesterday	Trend
Level	~745 ft	~746 ft	➡️ Slight Drop
Storage	~152,000 ac-ft	~155,000 ac-ft	➡️ Slight Drop
Capacity	~40%	~41%	➡️ Slight Drop

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San Antonio Lake (~142% of Normal)

• Storage: ~260,000 acre-ft (142% of normal!)
• Water Temp: ~66-70°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. Floating debris possible after summer inflow. Night fishing productive! Try cut bait around points after dark.

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Santa Margarita Lake (~100% Capacity)

• Conditions: At full pool, good clarity
• Bass: ⭐ Excellent! Topwater action at dawn
• Trout: Active near inlet areas
• Notes: Lake at capacity - all launch ramps accessible

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🌊 Ocean Fishing: Morro Bay & Offshore

⚠️ Small Craft Advisory Continues

CAUTION: A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect through late tonight for all coastal waters. Strong northwesterly winds 15-25 kt and elevated seas will make offshore boating challenging. Use caution if heading out, or wait for conditions to fully improve Thursday.

Current Ocean Conditions (Morro Bay Area)

From NDBC Buoy 46011 (Pt Conception) and NOAA Marine Forecast:

• Water Temp: 57-58°F (14°C) - from NDBC Buoy 46011
• Wave Height: 7-8 ft (2.1-2.4 m) - from buoy data
• Wave Period: 9-11 seconds - moderate interval swell
• Swell Direction: NW (290-310°) - typical fall swell
• Wind: NW 15-25 mph (7-11 m/s) from 320° - strong offshore winds
• Air Temp: ~58-60°F (14-16°C)
• Conditions: ⚠️ Small Craft Advisory - Caution advised

Outlook (NOAA):

• Today (Wed): NW 15-25 kt, seas 8-11 ft, improving late
• Tonight: NW 15-20 kt, seas 8-10 ft
• Thursday: N 10-15 kt, seas 6-8 ft, significantly improving
• Friday: NE 5-10 kt, seas 4-6 ft - Excellent conditions!

💡 Recommendation: Small craft advisory continues through tonight. Offshore conditions remain challenging but improving. Nearshore fishing possible but use caution. Best to wait until Thursday/Friday for safest offshore conditions. Lakes remain excellent alternatives!

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🌊 Tides - Morro Bay (NOAA Station 9412110)

Based on NOAA predictions for September 30, 2026:

Tide	Time (PDT)	Height
Low	~5:30 AM	1.72 ft
High	~11:42 AM	5.52 ft
Low	~6:32 PM	0.52 ft

Tide Range: ~5.0 ft - Good tidal movement, great for structure fishing

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🌙 Solunar Times (September 30, 2026)

Based on lunar data (Last Quarter - 47% illumination):

Period	Time (PDT)
Minor	5:15 AM - 7:15 AM
Major	11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Minor	5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Major	11:15 PM - 1:15 AM

Best Fishing Windows:

• Early Morning (5:15 - 7:15 AM) ⭐
• Midday (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM)
• Evening (5:30 - 7:30 PM)
• Late Night (11:15 PM - 1:15 AM)

Moon Phase: Last Quarter (47% illumination) - Fish feeding actively during major feeding 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. All lakes in excellent shape for fall fishing.

Ocean

⚠️ Small Craft Advisory through tonight. Seas 8-11 ft today, dropping to 4-6 ft by Friday. Use caution if heading out. Conditions improve significantly Thursday with lighter winds (10-15 kt) and seas dropping to 6-8 ft. Best offshore conditions Friday with calm winds and moderate seas.

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📊 Quick Reference

Lake	Capacity/Normal	Temp	Rating
Nacimiento	~40%	70-74°F	⭐ Good
Lopez	125% normal	66-70°F	✅ Good
San Antonio	142% normal	66-70°F	✅ Good
Santa Margarita	~100%	68-72°F	⭐ Good

Ocean (Morro Bay): ⚠️ Small Craft Advisory - Use caution, best offshore Friday

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Report compiled September 30, 2026. Lake levels estimated based on seasonal patterns and previous readings. Ocean data from NOAA Marine Forecast (FZUS56 KMTR) and NDBC Buoy 46011. Tides from NOAA Station 9412110 via tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov.