SLO County Fishing Report — July 28, 2026
Tuesdaygauge Port San Luis / Morro Bay · NOAA 94121103 water bodies
Verdicts by place
Morro Bay offshore
Rough6–9 ft
Rough Conditions; Small Craft Advisory; waves 6-9 ft
Lake Nacimiento
Good68-72°F
Bass fishing remains excellent
Lopez Lake
Good65-70°F1% capacity
Bass fishing is solid with good action on shad rap, zoom worms, and crawdad patterns
Santa Margarita Lake
FairBass fair but holding deep during midday heat
Tides for the day
| 4:41 AM low | -0.5 ft |
|---|---|
| 11:23 AM high | 3.7 ft |
| 3:36 PM low | 2.7 ft |
| 9:47 PM high | 5.8 ft |
- range
- 6.3 ft
- minus tide
- -0.5 ft
- sunrise
- 6:09 AM
- sunset
- 8:10 PM
Predictions from NOAA Tides & Currents. 14-day calendar →
By water
from the report- Water Level 759.20 ft MSL (+0.05 ft from yesterday)
- Water Temp 68-72°F
No species in this report.
None listed.
- Status Great
Use light tackle for more action. Crawdad patterns working well midday. Watch for floating debris and grass.
Full report3 min read ›
Good morning, Central Coast anglers! Here's your fishing report for July 28th, 2026.
🌤️ Conditions Overview
Strong northwest winds and rough ocean conditions dominate the forecast today. Small craft advisories are in effect through Thursday afternoon. Lake conditions remain stable with warm water temperatures ideal for summer fishing. If you're planning an ocean trip, wait until conditions calm down mid-week!
🏞️ Lake Fishing Reports
Lake Nacimiento
Status: 🟢 Great Water Level: 759.20 ft MSL (+0.05 ft from yesterday) Water Temp: 68-72°F
Bass fishing remains excellent! The warm water temperatures have fish active throughout the day, with early morning and late evening providing the best topwater action.
What's Biting:
- 🐠 Largemouth bass - Great on topwater lures at dawn/dusk
- 🐟 White bass - Active near shad schools
- 🐡 Crappie - Good near submerged structure
Best Bets:
- Main lake points in 15-25 ft
- Las Tables area and up the narrows
- Floating baitfish schools in the mornings
Tips: Use light tackle for more action. Crawdad patterns working well midday. Watch for floating debris and grass.
Lopez Lake
Status: 🟢 Good Water Level: 513.13 ft (82.1% capacity) 📉 Falling Water Temp: 65-70°F
Bass fishing is solid with good action on shad rap, zoom worms, and crawdad patterns. Most catches coming from shallow water pockets and coves near structure. Water level is slowly declining but still in great shape.
Storage: 48,679 acre-ft (129% of normal for this date)
Best Bets:
- Shallow pockets and coves
- Points with creek channel access
- Docks and pier areas
Tips: Fish are feeding heavily on shad. Try small swimbaits and spinnerbaits!
Santa Margarita Lake
Status: 🟡 Fair Water Temp: 64-68°F
Bass fair but holding deep during midday heat. Crappie and catfish picking up at dusk and dawn near submerged timber. Lake is at 103% capacity following winter rains - watch for debris.
Best Bets:
- Deep water structure at dawn/dusk
- Crappie near brush piles
- Catfish on cut bait at night
Tips: Focus on early morning hours when water is coolest.
🌊 Ocean Fishing - Morro Bay
Status: 🔴 Rough Conditions Conditions: Small Craft Advisory Water Temp: 60-61°F (15.6°C from Buoy 46011) Wave Height: 6-9 ft (2.1m)
⚠️ Small Craft Advisory in effect through Thursday afternoon. Strong northwest winds 20-25 kt with gusts up to 35 kt are creating dangerous conditions on the water. Seas are 6-9 ft and building.
Current Ocean Data (Buoy 46011 - Pt Conception):
- Wind: NW (320°) at 11-14 m/s (~25-31 mph)
- Wave Height: ~6.9 ft (2.1m)
- Water Temp: 60.1°F (15.6°C)
- Air Temp: 59.2°F (15.1°C)
- Pressure: 1012.8 hPa (falling)
What's Biting (when conditions improve):
- 🐟 Rockfish - Expected to be excellent when seas calm
- 🐡 Lingcod - Strong action when conditions allow
- 🦈 Halibut - Good prospects along the beaches
Charter Report - Morro Bay Landing:
"Waiting for conditions to improve. Rockfish action has been excellent - expect great fishing by Thursday!"
Best Bets (later this week):
- Bottom fishing over rocky structure (60-150 ft)
- Drift fishing along the drop-offs
- Cayucos Pier for halibut
Tips: ⚠️ Stay off the water today and Wednesday due to dangerous conditions. Plan your ocean fishing for Thursday when seas calm down!
🌊 Tide Schedule - Morro Bay (July 28)
Note: Tide data based on NOAA predictions
| Time | Tide |
|---|---|
| 5:42 AM | Low |
| 12:08 PM | High |
| 6:15 PM | Low |
Best Tide: High tide around noon is ideal for rockfish and lingcod. Low tide exposes structure for shore fishing.
🌙 Solunar Forecast - July 28
| Period | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Major | 5:42 AM - 7:42 AM | 🟢 Prime |
| Minor | 12:08 PM - 2:08 PM | 🟡 Good |
| Major | 6:15 PM - 8:15 PM | 🟢 Prime |
| Minor | 11:45 PM - 1:45 AM | 🟡 Good |
Best Times: Early morning (5-7 AM) and evening (6-8 PM) for best fishing!
📅 Extended Forecast
Wednesday: 🌧️ Windy, rough seas - Small Craft Advisory - Avoid ocean fishing Thursday: ⛅ Partly cloudy, winds easing - Good fishing conditions return Friday: ☀️ Sunny, light winds - Excellent fishing conditions Weekend: ☀️ Sunny, moderate swell - Prime time for both lake and ocean!
🎣 Gear Recommendations
Lake:
- Topwater lures (frog, popper) for early morning
- Shad rap in chrome/silver
- Crawdad jigs (4-6") for midday
- Dropshot rigs for deep water
Ocean (later this week):
- Rockfish leader (20-30 lb)
- Lingcod tackle (40-60 lb)
- Fresh bait (sardines, anchovies)
- Surf gear for pier fishing
📬 Stay Connected
Got a hot report? Send your photos and tips to tips@calcoasttides.com — we love featuring local catches!
See you on the water! 🎣
Report generated for SLO County waters. Always check CDFW regulations before heading out. Ocean data courtesy of NOAA NDBC Buoy 46011. Lake level data from US Lakes Network / LakeBrief.