San Luis Obispo County Fishing Report: 04-29-26
San Luis Obispo County Fishing Report: 04-29-26
Happy Wednesday! 🌊 Late April fishing on the Central Coast is delivering. Lakes are fishing well with post-spawn bass still aggressive, trout stockings continuing, and ocean conditions are primo out of Morro Bay. Let's dive in.
🏞️ Lake Fishing Reports
Lake Nacimiento 🌟
Conditions: Water temps 72-76°F, clear — one of the best bass lakes in California right now.
- Largemouth Bass: EXCELLENT 🔥 — Post-spawn feedfest in full swing! Big girls (5-10 lbs) are crushing baits in 5-15 ft near gravel transitions and riprap. Punch baits, frogs, and glide baits are dominating. Topwater early AM (6-8 AM) = explosions. Focus on north shore coves and main lake points.
- Spotted Bass: EXCELLENT — Schools roaming main lake. White bladed jigs, jerkbaits, and shallow cranks.
- White Bass: EXCELLENT — Windy main lake points with white/chartreuse bucktail jigs.
- Crappie: Good — 1-2 lb slabs around submerged timber. Small swimbaits and jigs.
- Catfish: Good — chicken liver and cut bait near deep creek channels at dusk.
Lopez Lake 🌟
Conditions: Low 60s water temp, slightly stained, all ramps open. Spring fishing at its best.
- Rainbow Trout: EXCELLENT — CDFW spring stockings ongoing! Shore anglers doing solid with chartreuse/rainbow PowerBait near marina and campground. Trollers hitting limits on orange/pink spinners and small #3 spoons.
- Smallmouth Bass: GOOD — Creek arms and windy coves. Soft plastics and shad-colored cranks near oak-lined banks.
- Largemouth Bass: GOOD — Moving shallow. Topwater and finesse plastics.
- Crappie & Bluegill: Active near marina. White jigs and small Rapalas.
- Blue Catfish: Decent — garlic shrimp and chicken liver near deep creek channels.
Santa Margarita Lake
Conditions: Near full, low 60sF, good visibility.
- Largemouth Bass: GOOD — Post-spawn, still shallow and hungry. Points, coves, weed edges. Swim jigs, Texas rigs, topwater. 2-3 lb average.
- Red-ear Sunfish: Good — crickets and worms in vegetation.
- Crappie: Fair — brush piles and deeper structure.
- Trout: Fair — chartreuse PowerBait near marina.
Whale Rock Reservoir
- Largemouth Bass: HOT! 70°F — bass staging near shore, prime window 8-11 AM.
- Presentation: Ned Rig, Swing Head, green pumpkin plastics. 2-2.5 lb average.
- Spotted Bass: Active on drop-offs — deep crankbaits.
San Antonio Lake
- Water Temp: ~60°F, ~50% full
- Largemouth Bass: GOOD — Post-spawn. Deep crankbaits in 15-25 ft, moving shallower with warming temps.
- Catfish: Good at dusk/dawn — garlic shrimp and chicken liver.
- Trout: Fair — chartreuse PowerBait near deeper water.
🌊 Ocean Fishing: Morro Bay
Offshore fishing is excellent right now! Charter report highlights from Virg's Landing and Morro Bay Landing:
- Rockfish: Incredible numbers — 470 rockfish, 87 lingcod, 26 halibut, and 4 king salmon reported on a recent day! Top species: Blue Rockfish, Vermilion, Copper, Bocaccio, Whitefish, Sheephead.
- Lingcod: ON FIRE — 87 lingcod on a single day! Both shallow and deep fishing producing. Largest: 12+ lb brutes.
- Halibut: Heating up — 26 landed on recent trips! Bay and shallow water fishing improving daily.
- King Salmon: Showing up — 4 kings reported this week. Trolling near the coast.
- Sea Conditions: Calm morning seas, light winds by afternoon. Great visibility offshore.
⚠️ Reminder: Quillback and yelloweye rockfish remain CLOSED. Check CDFW regulations.
📅 Book now — spring weekends are filling fast!
📅 This Week's Outlook
- Nacimiento bass — Post-spawn binge continuing; big females still catchable through early May
- Trout — Spring stockings hitting Lopez and surrounding lakes
- Ocean — Rockfish/lingcod action epic; halibut improving; salmon showing
- Weather: Morning fog gives way to sunny afternoons, light offshore winds — perfect fishing conditions
🎣 Before You Go
Check our Fishing Guide for species info, gear tips, and local regulations.
Tight lines, Central Coast! 🎣