SLO County Fishing Report — July 30, 2026

At Nacimiento, get out early. On the ocean, a small craft advisory runs from 3 PM through late tonight, and the forecast improves by Monday.

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Lake Fishing Reports

Lake Nacimiento

Status: Great Level: Healthy summer levels

Bass fishing remains excellent despite the warm water. Fish are active but moving deeper during midday heat.

What's Biting:

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

Tips: With the water this warm, fish early morning (6-9 AM) and evening (after 6 PM), when the fish are most active. Slow your retrieve midday, when they go deeper.

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Lopez Lake

Status: Good Level: Healthy

Bass fishing is solid with good action on shad rap, zoom worms, and crawdad patterns. Focus on shaded coves and pockets.

Tips: The early morning topwater bite is still producing.

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Santa Margarita Lake

Status: Fair

Bass are fair and stay deep in the midday heat. Dawn and dusk are best.

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Ocean Fishing - Morro Bay

Morro Bay Landing (Jul 29): Endeavor, 1/2 day, 32 anglers: 280 rockfish, 20 bolina, 1 lingcod, 1 red rockfish.

Patriot Sportfishing (Jul 29): Patriot (Avila Beach), 1/2 day, 32 anglers: 94 rockcod, 42 blue rockfish, 15 gopher rockfish, 4 copper rockfish.

Counts: SportfishingReport.com dock totals, Jul 29.

Status: Challenging (Small Craft Advisory) Conditions: Strong NW winds, choppy seas Water Temp: 59.5°F (NDBC 46011, Santa Maria) Wave Height: 5-6 ft (1.8m)

The small craft advisory runs from 3 PM through late tonight. The NWS forecast calls for NW wind at 10-20 kt with afternoon gusts to 25 kt, and seas of 5-7 ft building to 6-8 ft tonight. That's too much for small boats in the afternoon, and the wind stays up through Sunday before it drops on Monday.

Current Ocean Data (Buoy 46011 - Santa Maria):

• Wind: NW (310-340°) at 1-9 m/s (~2-20 mph), gusts to 11 m/s
• Wave Height: ~5.9 ft (1.8m)
• Water Temp: 59.5°F (NDBC 46011, Santa Maria)
• Air Temp: 57-58°F (14°C)
• Pressure: 1013.1 hPa (steady)

What's Biting:

• Rockfish - Still producing when conditions allow
• Lingcod - Strong action on deeper structure
• Halibut - Good prospects along the beaches when calm

Tips: Until the wind drops, a lake or the shore is the better choice.

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Extended Forecast

Small craft advisory from 3 PM this afternoon through late tonight.

Today: NW 10-20 kt, gusts 25 in the afternoon, seas 5-7 ft

Tonight: NW 15-25 kt, becoming 10-20 kt after midnight, seas 6-8 ft

Friday: NW 10-20 kt, seas 5-7 ft

Friday night: NW 15-25 kt, becoming 10-20 kt after midnight, seas 6-8 ft

NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard, zone PZZ645 (Point Piedras Blancas to Point Sal), issued 416 AM PDT Thu Jul 30 2026.

The weekend has NW 10-25 kt and 5-9 ft seas, and Monday starts light.

Sources: NDBC buoy 46011; NWS zone PZZ645.