SLO County Fishing Report — April 4, 2026
Happy Saturday, anglers! It's April 4th, 2026 — prime time on the Central Coast. Here's your local fishing intel for the week ahead.
🌊 Lake Fishing
Santa Margarita Lake
Spring is here and the bass bite is heating up. Anglers are reporting good action on largemouth bass with fish ranging from 12-20 feet. Hard jerkbaits and drop shots with Roboworms (bluegill color with chartreuse) are producing well. Some solid catches coming from secondary mud points and areas with wood cover. Trout fishing has been spotty but expect improvements as water temps rise.
Lake Nacimiento
The largemouth bass fishing remains solid, especially on main lake points and secondary humps. Look for fish in 8-13 feet of water. Lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits are working well in the mornings. The lake is at good capacity heading into spring, creating plenty of structure to fish.
Other Lakes
- Salinas River: Smallmouth bass action picking up; focus on deeper holes
- Templeton: Stocked with rainbow trout last week — good for beginners
🎣 Morro Bay Inshore
The charter season is officially ramping up! Here's what's happening:
- Black Perch and Barred Surfperch: Great nearshore action from piers and beaches. Best in shallow, warm water during the day. Lugworms, Gulp Worms, or Bloodworms are the go-to baits.
- Rockfish: Shore fishing for rockfish is open year-round. Best during low tide near rocks and kelp paddies. Cayucos to Big Sur has consistent action.
- Surf Fishing: Between Morro Bay and Cayucos, surfperch and corbina are hitting. Night fishing with synthetic baits can produce striper.
⚠️ Some piers have temporary closures — check local regs before heading out. Rockfish season fully reopens in April, so expect more charter options coming online.
📅 Forecast & Best Bites
| Day | Conditions | Best Bites | |-----|------------|-----------| | Sat 4/4 | Partly cloudy, 62°F | Bass (AM), Perch (PM) | | Sun 4/5 | Sunny, 65°F | Surfperch, Rockfish | | Mon 4/6 | Sunny, 68°F | Trout, Bass |
Tides: Low tides morning and evening — great for shore fishing.
Moon: Waxing gibbous — night fishing for bass is productive.
🧡 Pro Tips
- Rockfish reopen: If you've been waiting for rockfish season, April is your month. Book a charter early — they're filling up.
- Morning bite: Bass are most active early (6-9 AM) before water warms.
- Surfperch: Use light tackle and small hooks — these guys put up a fight!
- Check regs: CDFW has updated some bag limits this season — double-check before you keep.
🎣 Tight Lines!
That's the wrap for this week. Get out there — the fish are waiting. Send us your catches @CentralCoastTides or tag us in your photos!
See you on the water. 🐟