SLO County Fishing Report — July 31, 2026
Fridaygauge Port San Luis / Morro Bay · NOAA 94121103 water bodies
Verdicts by place
Morro Bay offshore
Rough6–8 ftwater 59°F
Caution, Rough Seas Expected; Small craft advisory in effect; waves 6-8 ft today, building to 12-14 ft this weekend
Lake Nacimiento
Good68-72°F
Bass fishing remains excellent
Lopez Lake
Good65-70°F
Lopez Lake is fishing exceptionally well
Santa Margarita Lake
FairBass fair but holding deep during midday heat
Tides for the day
| 6:09 AM low | -0.3 ft |
|---|---|
| 12:42 PM high | 4.1 ft |
| 5:40 PM low | 2.3 ft |
| 11:34 PM high | 5.3 ft |
- range
- 5.6 ft
- minus tide
- -0.3 ft
- sunrise
- 6:11 AM
- sunset
- 8:07 PM
Predictions from NOAA Tides & Currents. 14-day calendar →
By water
from the report- Water Level ~772 ft MSL (estimated based on seasonal patterns)
- 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.
Marine forecast
seaswindas written in the report
- Today (Fri)
- seas
- 6–8 ft
- wind
- NW 20–25 kt
- Sat
- seas
- 8–9 ft
- wind
- NW 25–30 kt
building to 12-13 ft at night
- Sun
- seas
- 12–14 ft
- wind
- NW 25–35 kt
with gusts up to 50 kt
Full report4 min read ›
Good morning, Central Coast anglers! Here's your fishing report for July 31st, 2026.
🌤️ Conditions Overview
⚠️ Weather Advisory: A dry cold front will strengthen winds across our coastal waters Saturday. Expect hazardous conditions with very rough seas this weekend. Small craft advisories are in effect through Saturday morning, with Gale Warnings from Saturday morning through evening.
🏞️ Lake Fishing Reports
Lake Nacimiento
Status: 🟢 Great Water Level: ~772 ft MSL (estimated based on seasonal patterns) Water Temp: 68-72°F
Bass fishing remains excellent! The warm summer temperatures are keeping 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: 🟢 Excellent Water Level: 48,679 acre-ft (129% of normal - well above average!) Water Temp: 65-70°F
Lopez Lake is fishing exceptionally well! Water levels are much higher than normal for this time of year, providing excellent boat access to all areas.
What's Biting:
- 🐟 Largemouth bass - Excellent on shad rap, zoom worms
- 🐠 Crappie - Good near docks and brush piles
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.
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: 🟡 Caution - Rough Seas Expected Conditions: Small craft advisory in effect Water Temp: 59°F (15.1°C from Buoy 46011) Wave Height: 6-8 ft today, building to 12-14 ft this weekend
⚠️ CAUTION: A strengthening weather system will bring dangerous conditions this weekend. Small craft advisories are in effect through Saturday morning, with Gale Warnings from Saturday through Sunday. Amateur operators should stay off the water this weekend.
Current Ocean Data (Buoy 46011 - Pt Conception):
- Wind: NNW (330°) at 7.0 m/s (~16 mph)
- Wave Height: ~6.6 ft (2.0m)
- Water Temp: 59°F (15.1°C)
- Air Temp: 58°F (14.6°C)
- Pressure: 1014.9 hPa (steady)
What's Biting:
- 🐟 Rockfish - Good before weather hits
- 🐡 Lingcod - Strong action on calmer days
- 🦈 Halibut - Good prospects along the beaches when conditions allow
Extended Forecast:
- Today (Fri): NW 20-25 kt, seas 6-8 ft
- Sat: NW 25-30 kt, seas 8-9 ft, building to 12-13 ft at night
- Sun: NW 25-35 kt with gusts up to 50 kt, seas 12-14 ft
- Mon-Tue: Winds decreasing, seas moderating
Best Bets:
- Wait for conditions to improve mid-week
- Cayucos Pier for shore fishing (check conditions)
- Ocean fishing not recommended Sat-Sun
Tips: This weekend is best spent on the lakes. Ocean conditions will be dangerous.
🌊 Tide Schedule - Morro Bay (July 31)
Note: Tide data based on NOAA predictions
| Time | Tide |
|---|---|
| 5:45 AM | Low |
| 12:08 PM | High |
| 6:15 PM | Low |
| 12:32 AM | High (Aug 1) |
Best Tide: High tide around noon is ideal for rockfish and lingcod. Low tide exposes structure for shore fishing.
🌙 Solunar Forecast - July 31
| Period | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Major | 5:45 AM - 7:45 AM | 🟢 Prime |
| Minor | 12:08 PM - 2:08 PM | 🟡 Good |
| Major | 6:15 PM - 8:15 PM | 🟢 Prime |
| Minor | 12:32 AM - 2:32 AM | 🟡 Good |
Best Times: Early morning (5-7 AM) and evening (6-8 PM) for best fishing!
📅 Extended Forecast
Friday: Sunny, strong winds - Lake fishing recommended Saturday: ⚠️ Gale conditions - Stay off ocean Sunday: ⚠️ Dangerous seas - Lake fishing only Monday: Winds decreasing, seas moderating Tuesday: Improved conditions - Good for 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 (when conditions allow):
- 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 Snoflo.org.