SLO County Fishing Report — July 20, 2026

Good morning, Central Coast anglers! Here's your fishing report for July 20th, 2026.

📊 Lake Levels Update

Lake	Level	Change	Capacity
Lake Nacimiento	285,131 AF	+8,000 AF	109% of normal
Lopez Lake	~52,500 AF	Normal ops	100% capacity
Santa Margarita Lake	Normal	—	~95%+
San Antonio Lake	~270,000 AF	+Normal	145% of normal

Note: Lake Nacimiento saw a significant jump in storage — now at 109% of normal! All lakes in excellent shape for summer fishing.

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🏞️ Lake Fishing Reports

Lake Nacimiento 🌟

• Water Level: 285,131 acre-ft (109% of normal)
• Inflow: ~243 cfs (Nacimiento River)
• 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: Full capacity — 52,500 AF
• 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: 145% 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

✅ 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 (13-15°C)
• Air Temp: 58-62°F (14-16°C)
• Pressure: 30.05 in (1018 hPa) - stable
• Visibility: Good
• Swell Direction: S/SW

This Week's Outlook

Day	Wind	Seas	Conditions
Mon 20	NW 5-10 kt	5-6 ft	✅ Good
Tue 21	NW 5-10 kt	5-6 ft	✅ Good
Wed 22	NW 5-10 kt	~5 ft	✅ Good
Thu 23	NW 10-15 kt	4-5 ft	✅ Good

Fishing Report

Ocean conditions are good for the week:

• 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: Moderate NW winds today — conditions are comfortable for both boat and kayak fishing. Watch for increasing winds Thursday-Friday as a weather system approaches.

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🌙 Solunar Times (July 20-22)

Date	Major 1	Minor 1	Major 2	Minor 2
Mon 20	6:14 AM	1:04 PM	6:35 PM	—
Tue 21	7:20 AM	2:07 PM	7:20 PM	12:59 AM
Wed 22	8:06 AM	3:09 PM	8:06 PM	1:27 AM

Best fishing windows: Early morning (6-8 AM) and evening (6:30-8:30 PM)

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📅 What to Expect

• Today: Good ocean conditions. NW winds 5-10 kt, seas 5-6 ft
• Tuesday-Wednesday: Similar conditions, great for kayak fishing
• Thursday-Friday: Winds increasing to 10-15 kt, seas building — plan accordingly
• All lakes above normal capacity — outstanding summer fishing!
• Lake Nacimiento storage jumped significantly — fish active!
• Bass fishing — target early morning/evening windows
• Catfish action heating up at Lake Nacimiento and San Antonio

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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, Snoflo.org