SLO County Fishing Report — April 25, 2026
Morro Bay Ocean Fishing 🎣
What's Biting: Rockfish season continues to deliver! The ocean is warming and the action is heating up.
Top Catches This Week:
- Blue Rockfish — Still going strong, limits common
- Vermilion Rockfish — Excellent numbers, beautiful red snapper
- Lingcod — Solid action, some real lunkers in the 8-10 lb range
- Cabezon — Good catch for anglers targeting bottom fish
Best Gear: Metal jigs (1/2-1 oz) tipped with squid or sardine. Focus on rocky structure in 60-120 feet. Morning trips (6-8 AM departure) have been producing best.
Boat Available: Endeavor, Rita G, and Fiesta all running. Call Virg's Landing for reservations — weekends filling up fast!
Water Conditions: Water temps rising into the mid-50s, visibility improving to 20-30 feet. Perfect conditions for rockfish.
SLO County Lakes
Santa Margarita Lake 🎯 Hot Spot!
- Bass are on fire in 15-20 feet of water
- Finesse rigs: Senkos, drop-shots, Neko setups doing most damage
- Ultra-clear water — go light and finesse your presentation
- Midday through late afternoon has been the best window
- 3-pounders common, 5-6 pounders being caught regularly
- Crappie suspended on primary points, bright jigs working well
- Catfish: big girls (15+ lbs) landed recently!
Lake Nacimiento — Striper action picking up. Troll deep divers early morning. Water temps in the upper 50s.
Whale Rock Reservoir — Trout planted this month. Catfish active at dusk.
San Antonio Lake — Good for trout mornings. Bass improving.
Tips for This Week
- 🎯 Santa Margarita is THE spot — don't miss it
- 🌅 Best lake bite: 10 AM - 4 PM
- 🐟 Rockfish limits easy — get out on the water
- 📞 Call ahead for boat rentals and bait
Stay safe and tight lines! 🐟