journal / field-reports / 2026-05-13
SLO County Fishing Report — May 13, 2026
Wednesdaygauge Port San Luis / Morro Bay · NOAA 94121104 places
There is a newer report: SLO County Fishing Report — November 15, 2026 →
Verdicts by place
Lake Nacimiento
Good770.8 ft60% capacity
White bass excellent in large schools; spotted bass strong
Santa Margarita Lake
GoodLargemouth good in 15-25 ft; catfish excellent
Lopez Lake
GoodBass good on shad-colored cranks and jerkbaits
Morro Bay offshore
GoodRockfish excellent
Port San Luis / Morro Bay · NOAA 9412110 · ft MLLW · Pacific time
Tides for the day
| 2:18 AM low | 0.7 ft |
|---|---|
| 8:11 AM high | 3.7 ft |
| 1:45 PM low | 1.1 ft |
| 8:11 PM high | 5.5 ft |
- range
- 4.7 ft
- sunrise
- 6:01 AM
- sunset
- 7:58 PM
Predictions from NOAA Tides & Currents. 14-day calendar →
Bite grid
excellentgoodfairslownoted
| Species | Nacimiento | Santa Margarita | San Antonio | Morro Bay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass | excellentwhite · spotted | goodlargemouth | noted | not reported |
| Catfish | not reported | excellent | good | not reported |
| Crappie / panfish | not reported | noted | not reported | not reported |
| Trout | not reported | not reported | fair | not reported |
| Rockfish | not reported | not reported | not reported | excellentvermilion · copper |
| Lingcod | not reported | not reported | not reported | noted |
By water
from the reportWater
- Level 770.8 ft, 230,900 AF (60% of capacity) — CDEC NCM, May 13.
What's biting
- White Bass excellent Large schools active on the main lake
- Spotted Bass excellent Moving baits, especially on rocky points
Lures & bait
None listed.
Full report1 min read ›
Bass are in their late-spring spawn at Lake Nacimiento.
Lake Fishing Reports
Lake Nacimiento
- Level: 770.8 ft, 230,900 AF (60% of capacity) — CDEC NCM, May 13.
- White Bass: Excellent. Large schools active on the main lake
- Spotted Bass: Crushing moving baits, especially on rocky points
Santa Margarita Lake
- Largemouth Bass: Good. Fish holding in 15-25 ft
- Best Baits: Senkos, drop-shots, Neko setups, finesse rigs
- Crappie: Active on primary points with bright-colored jigs
- Catfish: Excellent.
Lopez Lake
- Bass: Good.
- Tip: Drop-shotting in 20+ ft for bigger bass
San Antonio Lake
- Level: 753.7 ft, 210,400 AF (64% of capacity) — CDEC ATN, May 13.
- Trout: Fair. Chartreuse/rainbow PowerBait near dam
- Catfish: Good. 2-4 lbs on garlic shrimp at backs of coves
- Bass: Active on shallow crankbaits in 10-15 ft
Ocean Fishing: Morro Bay
- Lingcod: See the dock counts below
- Rockfish: Excellent action across all species
- Vermilion Rockfish: Strong showing
- Copper Rockfish: Good numbers
- Bocaccio: Active in deeper waters
Dock counts:
- Morro Bay Landing (May 12): Endeavor, 3/4 day, 12 anglers: 50 rockfish, 24 red rockfish, 20 bolina, 16 lingcod.
- Patriot Sportfishing (May 12): Sunny Day, half day, 2 anglers: 4 king salmon, 1 lingcod, 1 rockcod.
Counts: SportfishingReport.com dock totals, May 12.