SLO County Fishing Report — May 2, 2026
Saturdaygauge Port San Luis / Morro Bay · NOAA 94121103 places
There is a newer report: SLO County Fishing Report — November 15, 2026 →
Verdicts by place
Morro Bay offshore
GoodRockfish and lingcod excellent on offshore reefs
Morro Bay & Cayucos surf
GoodSurfperch solid from piers; halibut good nearshore
Lake Nacimiento
GoodBass good moving shallow on topwater; trout fair
San Antonio Lake
FairBass good and panfish excellent; trout slow
Tides for the day
| 5:31 AM low | -0.5 ft |
|---|---|
| 12:03 PM high | 3.4 ft |
| 4:25 PM low | 2.3 ft |
| 10:40 PM high | 5.4 ft |
- range
- 5.9 ft
- minus tide
- -0.5 ft
- sunrise
- 6:11 AM
- sunset
- 7:49 PM
Predictions from NOAA Tides & Currents. 14-day calendar →
Bite grid
excellentgoodfairslownoted
| Species | Morro Bay | Nacimiento | San Antonio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bass | not reported | good | good |
| Catfish | not reported | noted | not reported |
| Crappie / panfish | goodsurfperch | not reported | excellentpanfish |
| Trout | not reported | fair | slow |
| Rockfish | excellent& lingcod | not reported | not reported |
| Halibut | good | not reported | not reported |
| Salmon | noted | not reported | not reported |
By water
from the reportNot reported.
- Rockfish & Lingcod excellent Bottom fishing on the offshore reefs is producing strong catches.
- Halibut good Nearshore, especially on sandy bottoms. Shore anglers having luck from the beach.
- Salmon Open since April 11 (CDFW).
- Surfperch good From piers and jetties. North T-Pier and Finger Piers producing well.
None listed.
- Schooling fish Sardines, mackerel, and jacksmelt running nearshore, good fun on light tackle.
- Patriot Sportfishing (May 1) Patriot, 3/4 day, 26 anglers: 105 rockcod, 20 bocaccio, 12 copper rockfish, 5 lingcod (up to 8 lb).
- Virg's Landing (May 1) Fiesta, 3/4 day, 16 anglers: 51 blue rockfish, 32 yellowtail rockfish, 23 starry rockfish, 2 lingcod.
Marine forecast
seaswindas written in the report
- Today
- seas
- 4–5 ft
light winds
- Tonightlighter
- seas
- 4–5 ft
- wind
- NW 10–15 kt
Full report1 min read ›
After the spring warm-up, conditions look good across the county.
Ocean & Bay Fishing (Morro Bay)
- Rockfish & Lingcod: Excellent. Bottom fishing on the offshore reefs is producing strong catches.
- Halibut: Good nearshore, especially on sandy bottoms. Shore anglers having luck from the beach.
- Salmon: Open since April 11 (CDFW).
- Surfperch: Solid from piers and jetties. North T-Pier and Finger Piers producing well.
- Schooling fish: Sardines, mackerel, and jacksmelt running nearshore, good fun on light tackle.
Dock counts:
- Patriot Sportfishing (May 1): Patriot, 3/4 day, 26 anglers: 105 rockcod, 20 bocaccio, 12 copper rockfish, 5 lingcod (up to 8 lb).
- Virg's Landing (May 1): Fiesta, 3/4 day, 16 anglers: 51 blue rockfish, 32 yellowtail rockfish, 23 starry rockfish, 2 lingcod.
Counts: SportfishingReport.com dock totals, May 1.
Freshwater Lakes
Lake Nacimiento ("Lake Naci")
- Bass: Good. Warming water has bass moving shallow. Topwater lures and soft plastics working well.
- Trout: Fair. Still some holdover fish in deeper water, but stocking tapers in May.
- Catfish: Starting to heat up. Cut bait and chicken liver effective near dusk.
Lake San Antonio
- Bass: Good. Similar patterns to Naci — fish moving into spawning flats.
- Trout: Slow. Water temps pushing fish deeper; best early morning before sun warms surface.
- Panfish: Excellent for bluegill and redear, and a good bet for families.
Weekend Outlook
Weather: Mild temps and light morning winds.
- Today: light winds, seas 4-5 ft
- Tonight: NW 10-15 kt, seas 4-5 ft
NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard, zone PZZ645 (Point Piedras Blancas to Point Sal), issued 146 AM PDT Sat May 2 2026.
Reg Reminders
Some rockfish and lingcod closures are still in effect, so check the CDFW groundfish rules and the Morro Bay MPA boundaries.