Journal • SLO County Fishing Report — August 25, 2026

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SLO County Fishing Report — August 25, 2026

Tuesdaygauge Port San Luis / Morro Bay · NOAA 94121103 places

There is a newer report: SLO County Fishing Report — November 15, 2026 →

Verdicts by place

  • Morro Bay offshore

    Fair

    3–5 ftwater 63°F

    Choppy in a fresh NW wind, small craft advisory tonight; seas 3-5 ft, 5-7 ft Wed-Thu

  • Lake Nacimiento

    Good

    752.2 ft41% capacity

    Bass excellent; crawdads midday

  • Lopez Lake

    Good

    511.9 ft81% capacity

    Bass solid; fish feeding on shad

  • Santa Margarita Lake

    Fair

    Bass fair; crappie and cats near timber at dusk

Port San Luis / Morro Bay · NOAA 9412110 · ft MLLW · Pacific time

Tides for the day

-1 ft0 ft1 ft2 ft3 ft4 ft5 ft6 ft7 ft12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM3:36 AM · -0.1 ft10:10 AM · 3.9 ft2:52 PM · 2.5 ft8:56 PM · 5.6 ft
NOAA high and low tides
3:36 AM low-0.1 ft
10:10 AM high3.9 ft
2:52 PM low2.5 ft
8:56 PM high5.6 ft
range
5.7 ft
minus tide
-0.1 ft
sunrise
6:30 AM
sunset
7:40 PM

Predictions from NOAA Tides & Currents. 14-day calendar →

Bite grid

excellentgoodfairslownoted

SpeciesNacimientoLopezMorro Bay
Bassexcellentlargemouth · whitegoodnot reported
Crappie / panfishgoodnot reportednot reported
Rockfishnot reportednot reportednoted
Lingcodnot reportednot reportedexcellent
Halibutnot reportednot reportedgood
Salmonnot reportednot reportednotedseason

By water

from the report
Water
  • Water Level 752.2 ft, 158,682 AF (41% of capacity), CDEC NCM, Aug 25.
What's biting
  • Largemouth bass excellent Topwater early and late, crawdad patterns midday
  • White bass Active near shad schools
  • Crappie good Near submerged structure
Lures & bait

None listed.

  • Status Great

Marine forecast

seaswindas written in the report

  1. Today
    seas
    3–5 ft
    wind
    NW 10–20 kt

    NW 10-20 kt this afternoon, 5-10 kt this morning, gusts 25

  2. Tonight
    seas
    5–6 ft
    wind
    NW 15–25 kt

    easing to 10-20 kt after midnight

  3. Wednesday
    seas
    5–7 ft
    wind
    NW 15–25 kt

    NW 15-25 kt in the afternoon, 10-15 kt in the morning

  4. Thursday
    seas
    5–7 ft
    wind
    NW 15–25 kt

    NW 15-25 kt in the afternoon, 10-15 kt in the morning

Full report2 min read ›

A fresh NW wind is up and the ocean is getting choppy, with a small craft advisory from this afternoon through late tonight. Seas build to 5-7 ft on Wednesday and Thursday, so mornings are the window for the boats.


Lake Fishing Reports

Lake Nacimiento

Status: Great Water Level: 752.2 ft, 158,682 AF (41% of capacity), CDEC NCM, Aug 25.

  • Largemouth bass: Excellent. Topwater early and late, crawdad patterns midday
  • White bass: Active near shad schools
  • Crappie: Good near submerged structure

Lopez Lake

Status: Good Water Level: 511.9 ft, 40,106 AF (81% of capacity), CDEC LOP, Aug 25.

  • Bass: Solid on shad raps, Zoom worms and crawdads, mostly from shallow coves near structure

Tips: The bass are feeding heavily on shad; small swimbaits and spinnerbaits work.


Santa Margarita Lake

Status: Fair

  • Bass: Fair, holding deep at midday

Ocean Fishing - Morro Bay

Status: Good (Choppy) Conditions: Fresh NW winds, moderate swell building Water Temp: 63°F (NDBC 46011, Santa Maria, morning) Wave Height: 3-5 ft

The wind makes it choppy today, and seas build to 5-7 ft on Wednesday. Mornings are best.

Buoy 46011 (Santa Maria):

  • Wind: NW at 10-15 kt, increasing to 15-20 kt this afternoon

  • Wave Height: ~4-5 ft (1.4-1.5m)

  • Wave Period: 7-14 seconds (mixed swell)

  • Water Temp: 63°F (17°C)

  • Air Temp: 62-65°F (17-18°C)

  • Rockfish: Vermilion and blues among them

  • Lingcod: Strong

  • Halibut: Good prospects along the beaches and from the pier

Salmon Season: Open.

Patriot Sportfishing (Aug 25): Flying Fish, half day, 20 anglers: 191 rockcod, 5 red rockcod, 4 copper rockfish, 1 lingcod. Counts: SportfishingReport.com dock totals, Aug 25.


Marine Forecast

Today: NW 10-20 kt this afternoon, 5-10 kt this morning, gusts 25, seas 3-5 ft Tonight: NW 15-25 kt, easing to 10-20 kt after midnight, seas 5-6 ft Wednesday: NW 15-25 kt in the afternoon, 10-15 kt in the morning, seas 5-7 ft Thursday: NW 15-25 kt in the afternoon, 10-15 kt in the morning, seas 5-7 ft

Small craft advisory in effect from this afternoon through late tonight.

NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard, zone PZZ645 (Point Piedras Blancas to Point Sal), issued 212 AM PDT Tue Aug 25 2026.

Sources: NDBC buoy 46011; weather from Open-Meteo.

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