SLO County Fishing Report — July 9, 2026
Thursdaygauge Port San Luis / Morro Bay · NOAA 94121104 water bodies
Verdicts by place
Morro Bay offshore
Rough6–9 ftNW 15–25 kt
NW 15-25 kt, Seas 6-9 ft; Rough conditions
Lake Nacimiento
Good~72-75°F75% capacity
White Bass: Good; Spotted Bass: Good on main lake points, schooling on shad
Lopez Lake
Goodlow 70s°F
Bass: Good
Santa Margarita Lake
GoodMid-60s°F
Largemouth Bass: Good; Crappie: Good on deep brush in 20-30 ft
Tides for the day
| 12:51 AM low | 0.7 ft |
|---|---|
| 6:59 AM high | 2.9 ft |
| 11:06 AM low | 2.2 ft |
| 6:04 PM high | 5.8 ft |
- range
- 5.1 ft
- sunrise
- 5:56 AM
- sunset
- 8:20 PM
Predictions from NOAA Tides & Currents. 14-day calendar →
Bite grid
excellentgoodfairslownoted
| Species | Nacimiento | Santa Margarita | Lopez | Morro Bay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass | goodwhite · spotted | goodlargemouth | good | not reported |
| Catfish | excellent | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Crappie / panfish | not reported | good | notedpanfish | not reported |
| Rockfish | not reported | not reported | not reported | excellentvermilion · copper · blue |
| Lingcod | not reported | not reported | not reported | good |
| Salmon | not reported | not reported | not reported | noted |
By water
from the report- Water Level 762.32 ft MSL (+0.03 ft from yesterday)
- Capacity ~75%
- Temp ~72-75°F (summer mode)
- White Bass good Early morning shallow bite, then deep
- Spotted Bass good On main lake points, schooling on shad
- Catfish excellent Big cats stacking in 20-30 ft
- Spinnerbaits
- crankbaits (shad colors)
- topwater early
Fish early morning or night — mid-day heat pushes fish deep!
Marine forecast
seaswindas written in the report
- Today (Thu)
- seas
- 6–9 ft
- wind
- NW 15–25 kt
Rough conditions
- Friday
- seas
- 7–9 ft
- wind
- NW 15–25 kt
Advisory continues
- Saturday
- seas
- 6–8 ft
- wind
- NW 15–20 kt
Improving slightly
- Sunday
- seas
- 5–7 ft
- wind
- NW 10–15 kt
Best day this week!
Full report3 min read ›
Good morning, Central Coast anglers! Here's your fishing report for July 9th, 2026.
📊 Lake Levels Update (USGS Data)
| Lake | Level | Change | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Nacimiento | 762.32 ft | +0.03 ft | ~75% |
| Lopez Lake | — | — | ~52,500 AF |
| Santa Margarita Lake | — | — | — |
Note: Lake levels trending slowly upward with minimal inflow (Nacimiento inflow ~292 cfs).
🏞️ Lake Fishing Reports
Lake Nacimiento 🌟
- Water Level: 762.32 ft MSL (+0.03 ft from yesterday)
- Capacity: ~75%
- Temp: ~72-75°F (summer mode)
- White Bass: ✅ GOOD — early morning shallow bite, then deep
- Spotted Bass: Good on main lake points, schooling on shad
- Best Lures: Spinnerbaits, crankbaits (shad colors), topwater early
- Catfish: ✅ EXCELLENT! Big cats stacking in 20-30 ft
- Tip: Fish early morning or night — mid-day heat pushes fish deep!
Santa Margarita Lake
- Status: Near full capacity
- Temp: Mid-60s to low 70s
- Largemouth Bass: ✅ GOOD — fish on deep structure, schooling at dusk
- Best Baits: Deep-diving crankbaits, drop-shots, Texas rigs
- Crappie: Good on deep brush in 20-30 ft
- Tip: Focus on deep water during hot summer days!
Lopez Lake
- Status: Normal operations
- Temp: Warming into low 70s
- Bass: Good — deep crankbaits and drop-shots working
- Panfish: Bluegill and crappie near marina structure
- Tip: Fish the deep pockets and creek channels
🌊 Ocean Fishing: Morro Bay
⛔ SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES IN EFFECT
Current Conditions (NOAA/NDBC)
- Wind: NW 15-25 kt (strong)
- Wave Height: 6-9 ft nearshore, 8-10 ft offshore
- Water Temp: 58.6°F (14.8°C) at Buoy 46011 (Pt. Conception)
- Visibility: Good
- Swell Period: 8-10 seconds
This Week's Outlook
Today (Thu): NW 15-25 kt, Seas 6-9 ft — Rough conditions Friday: NW 15-25 kt, Seas 7-9 ft — Advisory continues Saturday: NW 15-20 kt, Seas 6-8 ft — Improving slightly Sunday: NW 10-15 kt, Seas 5-7 ft — Best day this week!
Fishing Report
Despite rough conditions, ocean fishing remains productive for those who venture out:
- Lingcod: Good — up to 25 lbs reported
- Rockfish: ✅ EXCELLENT action across all species
- Vermilion Rockfish: Strong showing in 100-150 ft
- Copper Rockfish: Good numbers
- Blue Rockfish: Abundant!
- Salmon: Prepare for upcoming season
Current Bait Report:
- 🐟 Mackerel active in the bay
- 🐟 Sardines showing up — great for trolling!
- 🐟 Squid — consistent performer
Best Ocean Lures Right Now:
- 7" Squid strips
- 5" Swimbaits (anchovy/sardine colors)
- Deep-diving crankbaits for trolling
💡 Pro Tip: Wait for Saturday/Sunday when winds ease before heading out on the boat!
🌙 Solunar Times (July 9-12)
| Date | Major 1 | Minor 1 | Major 2 | Minor 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 9 | 6:15 AM | 12:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 12:30 AM |
| Fri 10 | 7:00 AM | 1:00 PM | 7:30 PM | 1:15 AM |
| Sat 11 | 7:45 AM | 1:45 PM | 8:15 PM | 2:00 AM |
| Sun 12 | 8:30 AM | 2:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 2:45 AM |
Best fishing: Early morning (6-9 AM) and evening (6-8 PM) windows
📅 What to Expect This Week
- Thursday-Friday: Rough ocean conditions, small craft advisories — best for lake fishing
- Saturday-Sunday: Improved ocean conditions, great for rockfishing & lingcod
- Bass fishing transitions to early morning/evening patterns
- Catfish action peaks at Lake Nacimiento
- Salmon season approaching — prepare for potential opener!
🎣 Get Your Gear Ready
Check our Fishing Guide for species info and regulations.
⚠️ Safety Note: Small craft advisories in effect through the weekend. Check conditions before heading out on the water!
Tight lines, Central Coast! 🎣