San Luis Obispo County Fishing Report: 03-25-26
San Luis Obispo County Fishing Report: 03-25-26
Good morning, Central Coast anglers! Here's your fishing report for March 25th, 2026.
🏞️ Lake Fishing Reports
Lake Nacimiento 🌟
- Temp: ~70°F, Clear water, 56% capacity
- White Bass: ✅ EXCELLENT! Spring run winding down but still lots of fish — try white blade jigs and silver spoons
- Spotted Bass: Active on main lake points — reaction baits producing well
- Largemouth: Pre-spawn bite heating up — flip jigs, chatterbaits, and jerkbaits all working
- Best Lures: White/silver blade jigs, hula grubs, pin-tail trailers, jerkbaits, Spooks
- Crappie: Good — 2-3 inch swimbaits near rocky pockets in 15-25 ft
- Tip: Topwater action best early morning; switch to deeper presenting by midday!
Santa Margarita Lake
- Temp: Low 50s, clear water, near full capacity
- Largemouth Bass: ✅ GOOD! Fish staging on points — senkos, drop-shots, and small cranks
- Crappie: Active on points and marina structure — small bright jigs
- Catfish: ✅ EXCELLENT! Big cats on garlic shrimp and chicken liver
- Trout: Scattered — rainbow PowerBait near dam
- Tip: Morning topwater bite improving — try Spooks and Pop-Rs!
Lopez Lake
- Temp: Mid 50s, slight stain
- Bass: Good — shad-colored crankbaits and jerkbaits on main lake points
- Panfish: Crappie and bluegill near marina on small Rapalas and white jigs
- Catfish: Good — chicken liver at night in deeper coves
- Tip: Focus on 20-30 ft depths with drop-shot rigs
San Antonio Lake
- Temp: ~58°F, roughly 47% full, slight stain
- Trout: ✅ FAIR — IMPROVING! Warmer temps bringing fish up — chartreuse/rainbow PowerBait
- Catfish: ✅ GOOD! 2-5 lbs on garlic shrimp at cove backs
- Bass: Active — try shallow running crankbaits in 10-15 ft
- Tip: Best trout action early morning near the dam
🌊 Ocean Fishing: Morro Bay
Spring conditions settling in! Here's the current rundown:
- Rockfish: ✅ GOOD! Shore fishing open year-round — best at low tide near rocks and kelp paddies
- Surfperch: ✅ GOOD! Weather calming down — beach conditions improved
- Lingcod: Good nearshore — try shallow water structure
- Flatfish: Possible in nearshore areas — check regulations
- Halibut: Starting to show — shallow sandy areas
Current Conditions:
- ✅ Calmer surf this week — great conditions for shore fishing
- Water temp warming toward 52-54°F
Best Ocean Lures Right Now:
- Squid strips (7") — consistent producer
- 5-6" Swimmer baits (white/blue)
- Small cranks for surfperch
Tip: Cayucos to Morro Bay beaches good for shore rockfish at low tide. Estuary fishing steady for cold-water species.
📅 What to Expect This Week
- White bass run wrapping up — last week to target big schools
- Bass moving toward full spawn — excellent week for trophy catches
- Ocean conditions favorable — great week for shore fishing
- Catfish consistent across all lakes
- Salmon showing more consistently — expect better action April
🎣 Get Your Gear Ready
Check our Fishing Guide for species info and regulations.
Tight lines, Central Coast! 🎣