SLO County Fishing Report — May 7, 2026

The lakes are between spring and summer patterns. White bass are in prime time at Nacimiento, and halibut are moving onto the inshore sand flats.

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Lakes

No new report since May 6.

Lake Nacimiento

What's biting:

• White bass — Excellent numbers right now
• Largemouth bass — Good on drop shots along points and creek channels
• Smallmouth bass — Active in deeper structural areas
• Crappie & bluegill — Solid panfish action
• Channel catfish — Night fishing heating up

Recommended techniques: Drop shots on primary points have been productive, and so have small swimbaits. In low light the fish are starting to move shallower to feed.

Key areas: East end near the dam, main river channels, and points with rocky transitions.

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Lopez Lake

What's biting:

• Largemouth bass — Good overall action
• Crappie — Popular with local anglers
• Red-ear sunfish — Biting
• Catfish — Best during low-light hours

Tips: The best window has been 6-9 AM, before the afternoon wind.

Quagga Mussel Alert: SLO County Parks requires all vessels to arrive clean, drained and dry to keep invasive species out.

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Santa Margarita Lake

Current conditions: Visibility has been stained following recent inflows.

What's biting:

• Crappie — Most consistent action; suspended on primary points with bright-colored jigs
• Channel catfish — Solid, with some fish pushing 15 lbs reported recently
• Largemouth bass — Improving as water warms; try finesse rigs
• Trout — Last plant was late February 2026

Techniques: Crappie are responding well to small jigs fished slowly. Catfish are hitting cut bait and stink baits in deeper water.

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Ocean / Morro Bay

Morro Bay & Ocean Fishing

• Water temperatures are climbing, and yellowtail and white sea bass are pushing north along the coast
• Surf fishing at Morro Strand and Avila Beach: perch active, and an occasional halibut in the surf

Dock counts:

• Morro Bay Landing (May 6): Avenger, 3/4 day, 19 anglers: 115 rockfish, 25 lingcod, 15 red rockfish, 5 cabezon (up to 12.2 lb).
• Patriot Sportfishing (May 6): Flying Fish, half day, 11 anglers: 100 rockcod, 5 copper rockfish, 4 lingcod (up to 8 lb), 2 bocaccio.

Counts: SportfishingReport.com dock totals, May 6.

Charters & Kayak Fishing

Kayak anglers are catching halibut and bass along the bay edges.

Regulations Reminder

Some ocean species have new size and catch limits for 2026; the CDFW regulations list them. The Marine Protected Areas near Point Buchon have their own rules, so learn the boundaries first.

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Trout Season

The lakes and reservoirs are open to trout all year (CDFW); the April 25, 2026 opener was for streams.