San Luis Obispo County Fishing Report: 03-02-26

Happy Monday! Here's your weekly fishing report for the Central Coast.

🏞️ Lake Fishing Reports

Santa Margarita Lake

• Water: Low 50s, stained visibility, near full capacity
• Bass: ✅ Good! Warming water temps bringing fish into pre-spawn
• Crappie: Active on primary points with bright-colored jigs
• Catfish: Excellent — 15-pounders caught over the past two weeks!
• Tip: Work jigs along rocky points and transition areas

Lake Nacimiento 🌟

• Temp: 67°F, Clear water
• White Bass: Excellent — windy conditions bringing out the best bite!
• Spotted Bass: Active on rocky points and flats, crushing moving baits
• Best Lures: Bladed jigs (white/silver), pin-tail trailers, crankbaits
• Crappie: Big slabs hitting 3-inch swimbaits near rocky pockets
• Tip: Let the wind do the work — cast and retrieve in wind-blown areas

San Antonio Lake

• Temp: ~53°F, roughly half full
• Trout: Slow — a few caught on chartreuse/rainbow PowerBait
• Catfish: ✅ Good! 2-4 lbs on garlic shrimp and chicken liver
• Bass: Deep winter pattern — try deep-diving crankbaits in 15-25 ft

Lopez Lake

• Bass: Good — focus on shad-colored crankbaits and jerkbaits
• Panfish: Crappie and bluegill near marina on small Rapalas and white jigs
• Tip: Drop-shotting in 20+ ft for higher-quality bass

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🌊 Ocean Fishing: Morro Bay

Offshore fishing delivering strong results as spring approaches:

• Lingcod: Up to 33 lbs (season: 2,814)
• Rockfish: 56,000+ landed
• Vermilion Rockfish: 8,670
• Copper Rockfish: 2,085
• Bocaccio: 6,615

Recent Charter Highlight: Full limits reported with lingcod up to 11 lbs!

Book charters early — spring is busy season!

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📅 What to Expect

• Bass moving into full pre-spawn mode
• White bass heating up at Lake Nacimiento
• Ocean fishing strong through spring

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🎣 Get Your Gear Ready

Check our Fishing Guide for species info and regulations.

Tight lines, Central Coast! 🎣