SLO County Fishing Report — July 18, 2026

Good morning, Central Coast anglers! Here's your fishing report for July 18th, 2026.

📊 Lake Levels Update

Lake	Level	Change	Capacity
Lake Nacimiento	~762 ft	Stable	~75%
Lopez Lake	Normal ops	—	~52,500 AF
Santa Margarita Lake	Full	—	~95%+

Note: Summer evaporation patterns active. Nacimiento inflow holding around 250-300 cfs. Focus on early morning or deep water structure during midday heat.

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🏞️ Lake Fishing Reports

Lake Nacimiento 🌟

• Water Level: ~762 ft MSL (stable)
• Capacity: ~75%
• Temp: 72-76°F (summer thermal stratification)
• White Bass: ✅ GOOD — early AM shallow bite, then deep
• Spotted Bass: Good on main lake points, chasing shad
• Best Lures: Spinnerbaits, crankbaits (shad colors), topwater early AM
• Catfish: ✅ EXCELLENT! Big cats in 20-30 ft, especially night fishing
• Tip: Fish 6-9 AM or after dark — midday heat pushes fish deep!

Santa Margarita Lake

• Status: Near full capacity
• Temp: Mid-60s to low 70s
• Largemouth Bass: ✅ GOOD — deep structure, dusk schools
• Best Baits: Deep-diving crankbaits, drop-shots, Texas rigs
• Crappie: Good on deep brush in 20-30 ft
• Tip: Target deep water during hot summer days, dawn/dusk for surface activity!

Lopez Lake

• Status: Normal summer operations
• Temp: Low 70s
• Bass: Good — deep crankbaits and drop-shots on points
• Panfish: Bluegill and crappie near marina structure
• Tip: Focus on creek channels and deep pockets

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🌊 Ocean Fishing: Morro Bay

✅ CONDITIONS IMPROVING - GREAT WEEKEND AHEAD!

Current Conditions (NOAA/NDBC Buoy 46011)

• Wind: NNW 11.7 kts (gusts to 15.5 kts)
• Wave Height: 5-6 ft
• Water Temp: 59.2°F (15.1°C) at Buoy 46011
• Air Temp: 57.6°F
• Pressure: 30.03 in (stable)
• Visibility: Good
• Swell Period: 8 seconds (NW swell dominant)
• Swell Direction: NW

This Week's Outlook

Day	Wind	Seas	Conditions
Sat 18	NW 10-15 kt	5-6 ft	✅ Good
Sun 19	NW 10-15 kt	5-6 ft	✅ Good
Mon 20	NW 5-10 kt	6-7 ft	✅ Good
Tue 21	NW 5-10 kt	5-6 ft	✅ Good

Fishing Report

Offshore conditions are excellent for the weekend:

• Lingcod: Good — up to 25 lbs reported, fish deep structure
• Rockfish: ✅ EXCELLENT — strong action across all species
• Vermilion Rockfish: Great in 100-150 ft
• Copper Rockfish: Good numbers
• Blue Rockfish: Abundant!
• Salmon: Season closed — prepare for fall opener

Current Bait Report:

• 🐟 Mackerel active in the bay
• 🐟 Sardines showing — excellent for trolling
• 🐟 Squid — consistent performer

Best Ocean Lures:

• 7" Squid strips
• 5" Swimbaits (anchovy/sardine colors)
• Deep-diving crankbaits for trolling

💡 Pro Tip: This weekend offers prime ocean conditions — NW winds 10-15 kt, seas 5-6 ft. Perfect for both kayak and boat fishing!

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🌙 Solunar Times (July 18-20)

Date	Major 1	Minor 1	Major 2	Minor 2
Sat 18	8:30 AM	2:30 PM	9:00 PM	2:45 AM
Sun 19	9:15 AM	3:15 PM	9:45 PM	3:30 AM
Mon 20	10:00 AM	4:00 PM	10:30 PM	4:15 AM

Best fishing windows: Late morning (8:30-11 AM) and evening (9 PM-midnight)

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📅 What to Expect

• Saturday-Sunday: Prime conditions! NW 10-15 kt, seas 5-6 ft
• Monday-Tuesday: Light winds, excellent for kayak fishing
• Bass fishing — target early morning/evening windows
• Catfish action heating up at Lake Nacimiento
• Rockfish action remains excellent offshore

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🎣 Get Your Gear Ready

Check our Fishing Guide for species info and regulations.

⚠️ Safety Note: Always check the latest NOAA forecast before heading out. Conditions can change rapidly!

Tight lines, Central Coast! 🎣

Data: NOAA Marine Forecast FZUS56 KMTR, NDBC Buoy 46011, USGS Water Data