SLO County Fishing Report — August 29, 2026

The south swell peaks today at 17-18 seconds. Surfers will like it; boats will not. With NW wind at 20-30 knots this afternoon on top of it, today belongs to the lakes.

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Lake Fishing Reports

Lake Nacimiento

Status: Great Water Level: 751.2 ft, 154,986 AF (40% of capacity), CDEC NCM, Aug 29.

• Largemouth bass: Excellent. They are feeding heavily before fall, best on topwater at dawn and dusk
• White bass: Active near shad schools
• Crappie: Good near submerged structure

Tips: Crawdad patterns midday.

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Lopez Lake

Status: Good Water Level: 511.7 ft, 39,969 AF (81% of capacity), CDEC LOP, Aug 29.

• Bass: Solid in the shallow coves near structure. The fish are on shad, so small swimbaits and spinnerbaits work, along with shad raps, Zoom worms and crawdads

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Santa Margarita Lake

Status: Fair

• Bass: Fair, deep through the midday heat

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San Antonio Lake

Status: Fair Water Level: 741.2 ft, 165,207 AF (50% of capacity), CDEC ATN, Aug 29.

• Bass: Fair. The lake is lower, but the fish are still active on deep points, creek channels and standing timber at midday

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Ocean Fishing - Morro Bay

Status: Challenging Conditions: Rough Water Temp: 61°F (NDBC 46011, Santa Maria, morning) Wave Height: 6-8 ft

The south swell has the seas at 6-9 feet. Cayucos Pier is more protected, and the inner bay is calmer for kayaks.

Buoy 46011 (Santa Maria):

• Wind: NW (320°) at 10-12 m/s, gusting to 12 m/s (~22-27 mph)

• Wave Height: 6.5 ft (2.0m)

• Wave Period: 7-8 seconds (NW wind wave) + 17-18 seconds (southern swell)

• Water Temp: 61°F (16.4°C)

• Air Temp: 60°F (15.6°C)

• Pressure: 1013 hPa (steady)

• Rockfish: Good when the boats can get out (60-150 ft)

• Lingcod: Strong

• Halibut: Good prospects along the beaches when it is calm

Morro Bay Landing (Aug 28): Avenger, full day, 14 anglers: 112 rockfish, 20 red rockfish, 7 lingcod, 5 copper rockfish, 3 cabezon. Patriot Sportfishing (Aug 28): Flying Fish, half day, 19 anglers: 185 rockcod, 4 copper rockfish. Counts: SportfishingReport.com dock totals, Aug 28.

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Marine Forecast

Today: NW 20-30 kt this afternoon, 10-20 kt this morning, seas 6-8 ft with a south swell 3 ft at 17 seconds Tonight: NW 15-25 kt, seas 6-9 ft Sunday: NW 20-25 kt in the afternoon, 10-20 kt in the morning, seas 6-8 ft Monday: NW 10-15 kt, seas 4-5 ft

Small craft advisory in effect through late tonight.

NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard, zone PZZ645 (Point Piedras Blancas to Point Sal), issued 308 AM PDT Sat Aug 29 2026.

Sources: NDBC buoy 46011.