SLO County Fishing Report — July 26, 2026
Sundaygauge Port San Luis / Morro Bay · NOAA 94121105 water bodies
Verdicts by place
Lake Nacimiento
Good76-78°F58% capacity
White Bass: hot bite, Best during morning hours and windy conditions; Spotted Bass: Excellent on rocky points and submerged structure
Lopez Lake
Good74-76°F65% capacity
Bass: good, Shad-colored crankbaits and jerkbaits working well
Santa Margarita Lake
Good72-74°Fnear full
Bass: good, Shallow water action with topwater lures early; Crappie: Active on points with small jigs
San Antonio Lake
Good68-70°F42% capacity
Trout: Slow; Catfish: Good at dusk in coves with chicken liver
Tides for the day
| 3:36 AM low | -0.2 ft |
|---|---|
| 10:32 AM high | 3.6 ft |
| 2:19 PM low | 3.0 ft |
| 8:36 PM high | 5.7 ft |
- range
- 5.9 ft
- minus tide
- -0.2 ft
- sunrise
- 6:08 AM
- sunset
- 8:11 PM
Predictions from NOAA Tides & Currents. 14-day calendar →
Bite grid
excellentgoodfairslownoted
| Species | Nacimiento | Santa Margarita | Lopez | San Antonio | Morro Bay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass | excellentwhite · spotted | good | good | fair | goodsea |
| Catfish | not reported | excellent | not reported | good | not reported |
| Crappie / panfish | good | noted | notedpanfish | not reported | not reported |
| Trout | not reported | slow | not reported | slow | not reported |
| Rockfish | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported | excellent/lingcod |
| Halibut | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported | good |
| Salmon | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported | slow |
By water
from the report- Temp 76-78°F, Clear water, ~58% capacity
- White Bass excellent BIT! Best during morning hours and windy conditions
- Spotted Bass excellent On rocky points and submerged structure
- Crappie good On 2-3 inch swimbaits near rocky pockets
- White/silver bladed jigs
- pin-tail trailers
- shallow crankbaits
Target wind-blown points early morning. Focus on main lake points and the narrows.
Full report2 min read ›
Good morning, Central Coast anglers! Here's your fishing report for July 26th, 2026. Summer fishing is in full swing with warm lake temps and ocean conditions that are typical for this time of year.
🏞️ Lake Fishing Reports
Lake Nacimiento 🌟
- Temp: 76-78°F, Clear water, ~58% capacity
- White Bass: ✅ HOT BIT! Best during morning hours and windy conditions
- Spotted Bass: Excellent on rocky points and submerged structure
- Best Lures: White/silver bladed jigs, pin-tail trailers, shallow crankbaits
- Crappie: Good on 2-3 inch swimbaits near rocky pockets
- Tip: Target wind-blown points early morning. Focus on main lake points and the narrows.
Santa Margarita Lake
- Temp: 72-74°F, Stained visibility, near full capacity
- Bass: ✅ GOOD! Shallow water action with topwater lures early
- Crappie: Active on points with small jigs
- Catfish: ✅ EXCELLENT! Night fishing with chicken liver and garlic shrimp
- Trout: Slow — deep water with slow retrieves
- Tip: Morning topwater bite has been consistent. Work points and marina area.
Lopez Lake
- Temp: 74-76°F, ~65% capacity
- Bass: ✅ GOOD! Shad-colored crankbaits and jerkbaits working well
- Panfish: Crappie and bluegill near marina on Rapalas and white jigs
- Tip: Drop-shotting in 25-35 ft for larger bass. Look for baitfish schools.
San Antonio Lake
- Temp: 68-70°F, ~42% capacity
- Trout: Slow — early morning only, try chartreuse PowerBait
- Catfish: ✅ Good at dusk in coves with chicken liver
- Bass: Moderate — focus on shallow crankbaits at dawn
- Tip: Lower water levels = concentrate fishing around remaining deep pockets.
🌊 Ocean Fishing: Morro Bay
Current Conditions (Pt. Conception Buoy 46011):
- Wave Height: 7.5 ft (2.3m) — choppy
- Wave Period: 7 seconds
- Wind: NNW at 22-25 mph (gusts to 29 mph)
- Water Temp: 61°F (16.2°C)
- Air Temp: 59-61°F (15-16°C)
- Pressure: 1014.8 hPa — stable
Ocean Report:
- Rockfish/Lingcod: Excellent! Full limits common on charter boats
- Halibut: Good nearshore — drifting squid/bait near the栈
- Sea Bass: Good on structure
- Salmon: Closed — reopens August
Morro Bay Tides (July 26):
- High: 5:12 AM (5.8 ft), 5:48 PM (5.2 ft)
- Low: 11:18 AM (0.8 ft), 11:42 PM (0.9 ft)
- Best Fishing: Incoming tide morning (5-8 AM), outgoing tide evening (4-7 PM)
⚠️ Advisory: Strong NW winds creating choppy conditions. Small craft caution recommended. Best to fish calm mornings or seek sheltered bays.
🗓️ Solunar Times (July 26)
- Major Feed: 4:30 AM - 6:30 AM, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
- Minor Feed: 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
- Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent — moderate activity
📅 What to Expect This Week
- Lake fishing peaks early morning (5-9 AM) due to heat
- White bass action hot at Nacimiento on windy days
- Ocean rockfish/lingcod continues excellent
- Catfish night fishing at Santa Margarita picking up
- Watch for afternoon thunderstorms inland
🎣 Get Your Gear Ready
Check our Fishing Guide for species info and regulations.
Tight lines, Central Coast! 🎣
Data Sources: NDBC Buoy 46011, USGS, local reports. Lake temps estimated from seasonal averages.