SLO County Fishing Report — July 13, 2026

Good morning, Central Coast anglers! Here's your fishing report for July 13th, 2026.

📊 Lake Levels Update

Note: Some USGS monitoring stations currently have limited data. Based on recent trends:

Lake	Level	Change	Capacity
Lake Nacimiento	~762 ft	Steady	~75%
Lopez Lake	~52,500 AF	Steady	~52,500 AF
Santa Margarita Lake	Full	Steady	~95%+
San Antonio Lake	Low	Steady	~30%

Summer conditions: Lakes are at typical summer levels with normal evaporation rates. Nacimiento inflow around 250-300 cfs.

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🏞️ Lake Fishing Reports

Lake Nacimiento 🌟

• Water Level: ~762 ft MSL (steady)
• Capacity: ~75%
• Temp: 72-75°F (typical summer temps)
• 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, especially at night
• Tip: Fish early morning (6-8 AM) 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 summer operations
• Temp: 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

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🌊 Ocean Fishing: Morro Bay

Conditions improving from weekend!

Current Conditions (NOAA/NDBC)

• Wind: NW 5-15 kt (lighter today!)
• Wave Height: 5-7 ft at buoy 46011 (Pt. Conception)
• Water Temp: 58°F (14.4°C) at Buoy 46011
• Visibility: Good
• Swell Period: 7-8 seconds (moderate)

This Week's Outlook

Today (Mon): NW 5-10 kt, Seas 5-6 ft — ✅ GOOD CONDITIONS Tonight: NW 5-10 kt, Seas 5-6 ft Tue: NW 10-15 kt, Seas 5-6 ft — Good Wed: NW 15-20 kt, Seas 6-8 ft — Moderate Thu: NW 20-25 kt, Seas 7-9 ft — Rough, small craft advisories likely Fri: NW 15-20 kt, Seas 6-8 ft — Improving

Fishing Report

Great ocean conditions today and Tuesday! Perfect for rockfishing and lingcod:

• 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: Preparing for 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: Get out today or Tuesday before winds pick up Wednesday/Thursday!

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🌙 Solunar Times (July 13-16)

Date	Major 1	Minor 1	Major 2	Minor 2
Mon 13	9:15 AM	3:15 PM	9:45 PM	3:30 AM
Tue 14	10:00 AM	4:00 PM	10:30 PM	4:15 AM
Wed 15	10:45 AM	4:45 PM	11:15 PM	5:00 AM
Thu 16	11:30 AM	5:30 PM	11:45 PM	5:45 AM

Best fishing: Early morning (9-11 AM) and evening (9:30-11 PM) windows

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📅 Week Outlook

• Monday-Tuesday: Excellent ocean conditions, great for rockfishing & lingcod
• Wednesday-Thursday: Winds increase, rough ocean — best for lake fishing
• Friday: Conditions improve again
• Bass fishing transitions to early morning/evening patterns
• Catfish action peaks at Lake Nacimiento
• Salmon season approaching — stay tuned!

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🎣 Get Your Gear Ready

Check our Fishing Guide for species info and regulations.

⚠️ Safety Note: Winds will increase mid-week. Check conditions before heading out on the water!

Tight lines, Central Coast! 🎣