SLO County Fishing Report — July 19, 2026

Good morning, Central Coast anglers! Here's your fishing report for July 19th, 2026.

📊 Lake Levels Update

Lake	Level	Change	Capacity
Lake Nacimiento	760.71 ft	+0.03 ft	~96%
Lopez Lake	48,679 AF	Normal ops	129% of normal
Santa Margarita Lake	Normal	—	~95%+
San Antonio Lake	270,863 AF	+Normal	148% of normal

Note: Lake Nacimiento is near full capacity! All lakes in excellent shape for summer fishing. Inflows holding at 250+ cfs.

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🏞️ Lake Fishing Reports

Lake Nacimiento 🌟

• Water Level: 760.71 ft MSL (+0.03 ft from yesterday)
• Capacity: ~96% (near full!)
• Temp: 72-78°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, night fishing hotspot
• 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: 129% of normal — excellent summer levels
• 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

San Antonio Lake

• Status: 148% of normal — very high for summer
• Temp: Mid-70s
• Bass: Good — deep structure, submerged timber
• Catfish: Excellent night fishing
• Tip: High water has flooded new structure — fish the edges!

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🌊 Ocean Fishing: Morro Bay

✅ EXCELLENT CONDITIONS TODAY!

Current Conditions (NOAA/NDBC Buoy 46011)

• Wind: NNW 12 kts (gusts to 20 kts)
• Wave Height: 4.6 ft (1.4m)
• Wave Period: 16 seconds (long period = cleaner swell)
• Water Temp: 59.9°F (15.5°C)
• Air Temp: 57°F (14°C)
• Pressure: 30.04 in (1016 hPa) - stable
• Visibility: Good
• Swell Direction: WNW

This Week's Outlook

Day	Wind	Seas	Conditions
Sun 19	NNW 10-15 kt	4-5 ft	✅ Excellent
Mon 20	NW 10-15 kt	4-6 ft	✅ Good
Tue 21	NW 5-10 kt	3-4 ft	✅ Great
Wed 22	SW 5-10 kt	2-3 ft	✅ Excellent

Fishing Report

Ocean 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: Long 16-second wave period means cleaner swell despite the wind. Great day for ocean fishing!

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🌙 Solunar Times (July 19-21)

Date	Major 1	Minor 1	Major 2	Minor 2
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
Tue 21	10:45 AM	4:45 PM	11:15 PM	5:00 AM

Best fishing windows: Late morning (9 AM-12 PM) and evening (9 PM-midnight)

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📅 What to Expect

• Today: Excellent ocean conditions! NNW winds 10-15 kt, seas 4-5 ft
• Monday-Tuesday: Lightening winds, excellent for kayak fishing
• All lakes near or above normal capacity — outstanding summer fishing!
• Bass fishing — target early morning/evening windows
• Catfish action heating up at Lake Nacimiento and San Antonio
• 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, Nacimiento.uslakes.info, Snoflo.org