SLO County Fishing Report — July 20, 2026
Mondaygauge Port San Luis / Morro Bay · NOAA 94121105 places
There is a newer report: SLO County Fishing Report — November 15, 2026 →
Verdicts by place
Morro Bay offshore
Good4–6 ftNW 5–10 kt
Good conditions today
Lake Nacimiento
Good760.4 ft49% capacity
White Bass: Good; Spotted Bass: Good on main lake points, chasing shad
Lopez Lake
Good513.3 ft84% capacity
Bass: Good
Santa Margarita Lake
GoodLargemouth Bass: Good; Crappie: Good on deep brush in 20-30 ft
NOAA tide predictions for this day aren't available right now. See the Port San Luis / Morro Bay tide calendar →
Bite grid
excellentgoodfairslownoted
| Species | Nacimiento | Santa Margarita | Lopez | San Antonio | Morro Bay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass | goodwhite · spotted | goodlargemouth | good | good | not reported |
| Catfish | excellent | not reported | not reported | excellent | not reported |
| Crappie / panfish | not reported | good | notedpanfish | not reported | not reported |
| Rockfish | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported | excellentvermilion · copper · blue |
| Lingcod | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported | good |
| Salmon | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported | noted |
By water
from the report- Water Level 760.4 ft, 188,612 AF (49% of capacity), CDEC NCM, Jul 20.
- White Bass good Early AM shallow bite, then deep
- Spotted Bass good On main lake points, chasing shad
- Catfish excellent Big cats in 20-30 ft, at their best at night
- Spinnerbaits
- crankbaits (shad colors)
- topwater early AM
Fish 6-9 AM or after dark, before or after the midday heat sends fish deep.
Marine forecast
seaswindas written in the report
- Todaylighter
- seas
- 4–5 ft
- wind
- NW 5–10 kt
becoming 10-15 kt in the afternoon
- Tonightlighter
- seas
- 4–5 ft
- wind
- NW 10–15 kt
becoming 5-10 kt after midnight
- Tuesdaylighter
- seas
- 4–5 ft
- wind
- NW 5–10 kt
becoming 10-15 kt in the afternoon
- Tuesday nightlighter
- seas
- 4–5 ft
- wind
- NW 10–15 kt
becoming 5-10 kt after midnight
Full report3 min read ›
The NW wind is light this morning, 5-10 kt rising to 10-15 kt in the afternoon, and seas are 4-5 ft. Nacimiento lost 583 acre-ft and sits at 49% of capacity; San Antonio is at 55% (CDEC NCM and ATN).
Lake Levels Update
| Lake | Level | Change | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Nacimiento | 760.43 ft, 188,612 AF | -583 AF | 49% |
| Lopez Lake | 513.34 ft, 41,312 AF | -33 AF | 84% |
| Santa Margarita Lake | — | — | — |
| San Antonio Lake | 746.34 ft, 183,006 AF | -534 AF | 55% |
CDEC stations NCM, LOP and ATN, Jul 20. Santa Margarita has no published daily level.
Lake Fishing Reports
Lake Nacimiento
- Water Level: 760.4 ft, 188,612 AF (49% of capacity), CDEC NCM, Jul 20.
- 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, at their best at night
- Tip: Fish 6-9 AM or after dark, before or after the midday heat sends fish deep.
Santa Margarita Lake
- 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: On hot days, fish deep. At dawn and dusk, watch the surface.
Lopez Lake
- Level: 513.3 ft, 41,312 AF (84% of capacity), CDEC LOP, Jul 20.
- 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
- Level: 746.3 ft, 183,006 AF (55% of capacity), CDEC ATN, Jul 20.
- Bass: Good. Deep structure, submerged timber
- Catfish: Excellent night fishing
Ocean Fishing: Morro Bay
Good conditions today.
Current Conditions (NOAA/NDBC Buoy 46011)
- Wind: NW 5-10 kts
- Wave Height: 4-6 ft (1.4-1.7m)
- Wave Period: 10-12 seconds
- Water Temp: 56-60°F (NDBC 46011, Santa Maria)
- Air Temp: 58-62°F (14-16°C)
- Pressure: 30.05 in (1018 hPa) - stable
- Visibility: Good
- Swell Direction: S/SW
Marine forecast
Today: NW 5-10 kt, becoming 10-15 kt in the afternoon, seas 4-5 ft
Tonight: NW 10-15 kt, becoming 5-10 kt after midnight, seas 4-5 ft
Tuesday: NW 5-10 kt, becoming 10-15 kt in the afternoon, seas 4-5 ft
Tuesday night: NW 10-15 kt, becoming 5-10 kt after midnight, seas 4-5 ft
NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard, zone PZZ645 (Point Piedras Blancas to Point Sal), issued 219 AM PDT Mon Jul 20 2026.
Fishing Report
- Lingcod: Good. Fish deep structure
- Rockfish: Excellent. Good action on all species
- Vermilion Rockfish: Great in 100-150 ft
- Copper Rockfish: Good numbers
- Blue Rockfish: Abundant
- Salmon: Open. The Monterey area (south of Pigeon Point) is open through Aug. 31; check CDFW for in-season changes
Morro Bay Landing (Jul 19): Avenger, 1/2 day, 28 anglers: 168 rockfish, 4 red rockfish, 2 lingcod, 1 cabezon.
Patriot Sportfishing (Jul 19): Patriot, full day, 30 anglers: 60 red rockcod, 44 bolina, 35 rockcod, 31 lingcod (up to 25 pounds).
Black Pearl Sportfishing (Jul 19): Black Pearl, 6 hour, 38 anglers: 126 rockfish (up to 4 pounds), 8 vermilion rockfish (up to 6 pounds), 4 lingcod (up to 12 pounds).
Counts: SportfishingReport.com dock totals, Jul 19.
Pro Tip: The NW wind is moderate today, comfortable for a boat or a kayak. More wind arrives Thursday-Friday.
Next Few Days
- Tuesday-Wednesday: Similar, light enough for kayaks in the mornings
- Thursday-Friday: Stronger NW wind in the afternoons, and seas build by Friday night
Data: NWS forecast for zone PZZ645, NDBC Buoy 46011, CDEC (NCM, LOP, ATN), SportfishingReport.com.