SLO County Fishing Report — July 25, 2026

The lakes are the safer bet this Saturday. The NW wind builds from 10-20 kt to 20-30 kt this afternoon, with a small craft advisory from 2 PM, and a long-period southerly swell from distant tropical cyclones keeps the ocean choppy through the weekend.

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Lake Fishing Reports

Lake Nacimiento

Status: Great Water Level: 759.64 ft, 185,560 AF (48% of capacity), CDEC NCM, Jul 25.

Bass fishing is still excellent at Nacimiento. The fish are active all day in the warm water, and the early topwater bite keeps getting better.

What's Biting:

• Largemouth bass - Great on topwater lures at dawn/dusk
• White bass - Active near shad schools
• Crappie: Good. Near submerged structure

Tips: Crawdad patterns work at midday.

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Lopez Lake

Status: Good Water Level: 513.13 ft, 41,139 AF (83% of capacity), CDEC LOP, Jul 25.

Lopez bass fishing is solid, with fish taking shad rap, zoom worms and crawdad patterns. Look in the shallow pockets and coves, where the bass are on shad.

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Santa Margarita Lake

Status: Fair

Bass are holding deep during midday heat. Crappie and catfish feed at dawn and dusk near the submerged timber.

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San Antonio Lake

No new report from San Antonio Lake since Jul 23.

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Ocean Fishing - Morro Bay

Status: Caution Conditions: NW 10-30 kt, seas 5-7 ft Water Temp: 61°F (NDBC 46011, Santa Maria) Wave Height: 5-7 ft

Marine forecast: Small craft advisory from 2 PM this afternoon through late tonight.

Today: NW 10-20 kt, becoming 20-30 kt in the afternoon, seas 5-7 ft

Tonight: NW 20-30 kt, becoming 10-20 kt after midnight, seas 6-8 ft

Sunday: NW 10-20 kt, becoming 20-30 kt in the afternoon, seas 5-7 ft

Sunday night: NW 20-25 kt, becoming 10-20 kt after midnight, seas 6-8 ft

NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard, zone PZZ645 (Point Piedras Blancas to Point Sal), issued 228 AM PDT Sat Jul 25 2026.

Long Period Swell: The southerly swell from the tropical cyclones lasts until at least mid-week, with waves of 8-9 ft possible by Wednesday.

What's Biting:

• Rockfish - Good action on calmer days
• Lingcod - Strong action when conditions allow

Morro Bay Landing (Jul 24): Endeavor, 1/2 day, 30 anglers: 230 copper rockfish, 5 rockfish, 5 red rockfish.

Patriot Sportfishing (Jul 24): Flying Fish, 1/2 day, 22 anglers: 213 rockcod, 3 lingcod (up to 10 pounds), 2 copper rockfish, 1 bolina.

Black Pearl Sportfishing (Jul 24): Black Pearl, 1.5 day, 17 anglers: 256 rockfish (up to 8 pounds), 43 lingcod (up to 18 pounds), 41 vermilion rockfish (up to 9 pounds).

Counts: SportfishingReport.com dock totals, Jul 24.

Salmon Season: Currently open.

Tips: The long-period swell builds the waves through the weekend, so the bigger days will be harder to fish.

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Extended Forecast

Monday and Tuesday look the same, with NW wind reaching 20-30 kt each afternoon and seas of 5-9 ft.

Sources: NDBC buoy 46011; NWS zone PZZ645; lake levels from CDEC (NCM, LOP); counts from SportfishingReport.com.