San Luis Obispo County Fishing Report: 03-31-26
San Luis Obispo County Fishing Report: 03-31-26
Good morning, Central Coast anglers! Here's your fishing report for March 31st, 2026.
🏞️ Lake Fishing Reports
Lake Nacimiento 🌟
- Temp: ~68°F, Clear water, 55% capacity
- Spring spawn in FULL effect! Fish are aggressive and feeding heavily
- White Bass: ✅ EXCELLENT! Running in big schools — try white/blade jigs on windy points
- Spotted Bass: Great action on main lake points and creek channels
- Best Lures: Bladed jigs, hula grubs, drop shots, pin-tail trailers, spooks
- Crappie: Good — 2-3 inch swimbaits near deep docks and rocky points
- Bass: Quality fish being caught on shallow cranks and texas-rigged plastics
- Tip: Hit the wind-blown points at dawn — that's when they're most active!
Santa Margarita Lake
- Temp: Mid 50s, clear visibility, near full capacity
- Largemouth Bass: ✅ GOOD BIT! Fish staging in 15-25 ft — drop-shotting is dominating
- Best Baits: Senkos, drop-shots, Neko rigs, finesse worms
- Crappie: Active on main lake points — try small jigs in bright colors
- Catfish: Excellent — chicken liver and garlic shrimp working great
- Trout: Fair — PowerBait and small spinners near the dam
Lopez Lake
- Temp: Mid 50s, stained water, moderate level
- Bass: Good — shad-colored cranks and jerkbaits on secondary points
- Panfish: Bluegill and crappie near marina on small Rapalas
- Tip: Focus on deep water (20-30 ft) with drop-shot rigs
San Antonio Lake
- Temp: ~56°F, ~45% capacity, slightly stained
- Trout: Fair — chartreuse PowerBait near the narrows
- Catfish: ✅ Good! 2-5 lbs on chicken liver and garlic shrimp
- Bass: Improving — shallow cranks and spinnerbaits working in coves
🌊 Ocean Fishing: Morro Bay
Spring ocean fishing is heating up! Current conditions:
- Lingcod: Good — fish up to 30 lbs being caught
- Rockfish: ✅ EXCELLENT! Great variety across all zones
- Vermilion Rockfish: Strong showing
- Copper Rockfish: Good numbers
- Bocaccio: Active in 100-150 ft water
- Salmon: Starting to show — a few early kings caught
Current Bait Report:
- 🐟 Mackerel schooling in the bay
- 🐟 Smelt near jetty and shore
- 🐟 Squid — strips doing very well!
Best Ocean Lures Right Now:
- 7" Squid strips
- Big Hammer swimbaits
- Krocodiles at 100-150 ft
Water Temp: ~53°F at Ft. McAllister — warming into the prime season!
⚠️ Reminder: Check current CDFW regulations before heading out — some rockfish bag limits have changed.
📅 What to Expect This Week
- Peak spawn fishing at Lake Nacimiento — best big bass of the year!
- White bass action should stay hot with wind
- Ocean fishing improving as water continues warming
- Catfish consistent at Santa Margarita and San Antonio
🎣 Get Your Gear Ready
Check our Fishing Guide for species info and regulations.
Tight lines, Central Coast! 🎣