SLO County Fishing Report — October 3, 2026

Saturday brings typical fall conditions to the Central Coast. Moderate north winds and smaller seas make for decent nearshore fishing, though offshore trips may be challenging. Lake fishing continues to be excellent with fall patterns establishing!

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🏞️ Lake Fishing Reports

Lake Nacimiento ⭐

• Storage: ~148,000 acre-ft (estimated ~39% capacity)
• Water Level: ~743 ft MSL (slightly declining, typical fall drawdown)
• Water Temp: ~66-70°F (surface), cooler deep
• Conditions: Typical fall level, stable
• 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 around 39% capacity - focus on main lake structure and creek channels. Early morning topwater bite is excellent! 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: ~62-66°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	~743 ft	~744 ft	➡️ Slight Drop
Storage	~148,000 ac-ft	~150,000 ac-ft	➡️ Slight Drop
Capacity	~39%	~40%	➡️ Slight Decrease

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San Antonio Lake (~142% of Normal)

• Storage: ~258,000 acre-ft (142% of normal!)
• Water Temp: ~62-66°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: ⭐ Good! 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

⚠️ Conditions Fair - Use Caution

A weak trough is bringing moderate north winds and slightly choppy seas. Nearshore fishing is viable but offshore conditions may be rough. Exercise caution if heading out!

Current Ocean Conditions (Morro Bay Area)

From NDBC Buoy 46011 (Pt Conception):

• Water Temp: 68.5°F (20.3°C) - from NDBC Buoy 46011
• Wave Height: 3-4 ft (1.2 m) - moderate chop
• Wave Period: 8-16 seconds - mixed swell
• Swell Direction: NW to N (290-350°)
• Wind: N 10-15 mph (6.0 m/s), gusting to 16 mph - moderate offshore
• Air Temp: ~62.6°F (17°C)
• Barometric Pressure: 1010.2 hPa - stable
• Conditions: ⚠️ Fair - moderate winds, choppy conditions

Outlook (NOAA):

• Today (Sat): N 10-15 kt, seas 3-4 ft - Fair conditions
• Tonight: N 5-10 kt, seas 3-5 ft
• Sunday: NW 5-10 kt, seas 3-4 ft - Improving!
• Monday: Variable 5-10 kt, seas 2-4 ft - Great conditions!

💡 Recommendation: Nearshore fishing is viable today but offshore trips are not recommended. The northerly winds will create choppy conditions, especially in the afternoon. Consider lake fishing or targeting sheltered nearshore spots. Conditions improve significantly Sunday and Monday!

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🌊 Tides - Morro Bay (NOAA Station 9412110)

Based on NOAA predictions for October 3, 2026:

Tide	Time (PDT)	Height
Low	~4:12 AM	1.4 ft
High	~10:18 AM	5.8 ft
Low	~5:48 PM	-0.1 ft

Tide Range: ~5.9 ft - Large tidal range, excellent for structure fishing

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🌙 Solunar Times (October 3, 2026)

Based on lunar data (Waning Crescent - 18% illumination):

Period	Time (PDT)
Minor	4:30 AM - 6:30 AM
Major	10:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Minor	4:45 PM - 6:45 PM
Major	10:30 PM - 12:30 AM

Best Fishing Windows:

• Early Morning (4:30 - 6:30 AM) ⭐
• Midday (10:15 AM - 12:15 PM)
• Evening (4:45 - 6:45 PM)
• Late Night (10:30 PM - 12:30 AM)

Moon Phase: Waning Crescent (18% illumination) - Fish feeding actively during major feeding periods, low light conditions favor early/late bites

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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

⚠️ Fair conditions today with N winds 10-15 mph and seas 3-4 ft. Nearshore fishing viable but offshore not recommended. Improving Sunday-Monday with lighter winds and smaller seas. Great opportunity for lake fishing this weekend!

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📊 Quick Reference

Lake	Capacity/Normal	Temp	Rating
Nacimiento	~39%	66-70°F	⭐ Good
Lopez	125% normal	62-66°F	✅ Good
San Antonio	142% normal	62-66°F	✅ Good
Santa Margarita	~100%	64-68°F	⭐ Good

Ocean (Morro Bay): ⚠️ Fair - North winds 10-15 mph, choppy, improving Sun/Mon

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Report compiled October 3, 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.