San Luis Obispo County Fishing Report: 03-30-26

FishingMarch 30, 2026

Happy Monday! 🌊 Hope everyone got out on the water this weekend — conditions were primo. Here's your fresh fishing report for the Central Coast.

🏞️ Lake Fishing Reports

Conditions: Water temps 66-70°F, crystal clear — this lake is absolutely on fire right now. One of the top spots in the state.

Largemouth Bass: EXCELLENT 🔥 — Pre-spawn mode in full effect. Big females pushing 8-10 lbs are moving shallow. Bladed jigs, small plastics, and topwater at first light are crushing it. Fish main lake points, rocky coves, and transition zones (15-25 ft).
Spotted Bass: EXCELLENT — Aggressive and feeding hard on shad. Try white bladed jigs and jerkbaits off main lake points.
White Bass: EXCELLENT — Some of the best catch ratios in CA. Hit windy main lake points with white bladed jigs. Schools are stacked up and active.
Crappie: Big slabs (1-2 lbs) hitting 3" swimbaits near rocky pockets and submerged structure.
Catfish: Good early morning and dusk — chicken liver and cut bait working well near creek channels.

Conditions: Mid-to-high 50s water temp, near-ideal spring conditions. All boating open.

Rainbow Trout: EXCELLENT — CDFW stockings holding strong. Shore anglers doing well with chartreuse/rainbow PowerBait near the marina. Trollers pulling orange/pink spinners and dodgers are hitting limits.
Smallmouth Bass: GOOD — Creek arms are red-hot. Bass are Keying in on shad and crawdads. Soft plastics, shad-colored crankbaits, and jerkbaits near oak-lined coves.
Crappie & Bluegill: Active near marina and shallow structure. Small Rapalas, white jigs, and redworms.
Blue Catfish: Decent — try chicken liver or garlic shrimp near deeper creek channels.

Conditions: Lake is full, water temps low 50s, visibility improving after last week's storms.

Largemouth Bass: Picking up! Water is warming and bass are entering pre-spawn. Focus on shallow areas near points — swim jigs and paddle tail trailers producing 2-2.5 lb fish.
Red-ear Sunfish: Good action in vegetated coves with crickets or worms.
Crappie: Biting near structure in calmer, shallower pockets.
Tip: Improving visibility favors your standard lure presentations — finesse plastics, crawbaits, and stand-up jigs.

Largemouth Bass: HOT BIT! 66°F, partly cloudy — bass hugging shore within 10-15 feet. Best window 9:00–11:00 AM.
Presentation: Ned Rig, Swing Head, Texas-rigged stick bait in natural/green pumpkin colors. Average 2-2.5 lbs with occasional 3.5-4 lb fish.
Spotted Bass: Active on drop-offs and rocky structure — deep diving crankbaits doing well.

Water Temp: ~54°F, roughly half full
Catfish: GOOD ✅ — 2-4 lbs on garlic shrimp and chicken liver. Dusk and dawn are prime.
Largemouth Bass: Transitioning from winter pattern — deep crankbaits in 15-25 ft as base, start exploring shallower flats as afternoon warming continues.
Trout: Slow — some catchable fish on chartreuse/rainbow PowerBait.

Offshore fishing remains strong! Recent charter highlights from Morro Bay Landing:

Lingcod: 11 lb beast landed last week on Endeavor (3/4 day). Season totals have crossed 2,800+ landed!
Rockfish: 56,000+ for the season. Vermilion (8,670), Copper (2,085), Bocaccio (6,615).
Sheephead: Big 10 lb sheephead making appearances on recent trips — a fun bonus catch.
Sea Conditions: Flat, light wind, morning fog burning off by midday. Excellent for both boats and shore fishing.

⚠️ Regulations reminder: Quillback and yelloweye rockfish remain closed to retention. Always check current CDFW regulations before your trip.

Book early — spring steelhead and rockfish action is filling charters fast.

Bass peak — Nacimiento and Lopez should remain very active with warming water
Pre-spawn push — Santa Margarita bass will continue improving through the week
Trout stocking — CDFW plants ongoing; check local schedules
Ocean — Rockfish and lingcod remain the go-to; salmon announcements pending from CDFW

Check our Fishing Guide for species info, gear tips, and local regulations.

Tight lines, Central Coast! 🎣