San Luis Obispo County Fishing Report: 09-28-26
Good morning, Central Coast anglers! Here's your latest fishing report for September 28th, 2026. Fall fishing season is heating up! 🎣
🏞️ Lake Fishing Reports
Lake Nacimiento 🌟
- Temp: ~72°F (cooling down), Clear water, ~45% capacity
- White Bass: ✅ GOOD — early morning shallow bite, schooling on shad
- Spotted Bass: Good on main lake points and creek channels
- Best Lures: Spinnerbaits, crankbaits (shad colors), topwater early morning
- Catfish: ✅ EXCELLENT! Big cats stacking in 20-35 ft, chicken liver working great
- Tip: Fish the coves early — shad are moving shallow!
Santa Margarita Lake
- Temp: Low 60s°F, stained visibility, near full capacity
- Largemouth Bass: ✅ GOOD — deep structure bite improving with cooling water
- Best Baits: Deep-diving crankbaits, drop-shots, Texas rigs
- Crappie: Good on deep brush in 15-25 ft
- Catfish: Good — chicken liver and garlic shrimp
- Tip: Focus on creek channels and deep water points!
Lopez Lake
- Temp: Mid-60s°F, ~51% capacity
- Bass: Good — deep crankbaits and drop-shots working well
- Panfish: Bluegill and crappie near marina structure
- Tip: Fish the deep pockets and creek channels
San Antonio Lake
- Temp: Mid-60s°F, ~39% capacity, slightly stained
- Trout: Slow — try PowerBait at dawn near inlet
- Catfish: ✅ Good! Big cats on chicken liver
- Bass: Fair on shallow crankbaits early morning
- Tip: Low water levels - focus on remaining deep pockets
🌊 Ocean Fishing: Morro Bay
Fall ocean fishing is excellent! Current conditions from NOAA/NDBC:
Current Ocean Conditions (Buoy 46011 - Pt. Conception):
- Water Temp: 65°F (18.5°C) - ideal for fall species
- Wave Height: 6-7 ft, decreasing through the week
- Wind: NW 20-25 knots, gusts to 25 knots, diminishing mid-week
- Air Temp: 61°F (16°C)
NOAA Marine Forecast - Central Coast:
- Today: NW 20-25 kt, seas 7-9 ft, rough conditions
- Tuesday: NW 15-20 kt, seas 5-7 ft, improving
- Wednesday: NW 10-15 kt, seas 4-6 ft - Excellent fishing day!
- Thursday: SW 5-10 kt, seas 3-5 ft - Great conditions!
Current Ocean Conditions:
- Lingcod: Good — up to 25 lbs reported
- Rockfish: Excellent action across all species
- Vermilion Rockfish: Strong showing in 80-150 ft
- Copper Rockfish: Good numbers
- Blue Rockfish: Abundant!
- Salmon: Possible - check regulations before heading out
Current Bait Report:
- 🐟 Mackerel active in the bay
- 🐟 Sardines showing up — great for trolling!
- 🐟 Squid — consistent performer
Best Ocean Lures Right Now:
- 7" Squid strips
- 5" Swimbaits (anchovy/sardine colors)
- Deep-diving crankbaits for trolling
Water Temp: ~65°F at outer waters — warming for fall species!
📅 Tide Schedule - Morro Bay
September 28, 2026 (Mon):
- High: 5:18 AM (5.4 ft), 5:48 PM (4.9 ft)
- Low: 11:08 AM (1.1 ft)
September 29, 2026 (Tue):
- High: 5:58 AM (5.6 ft), 6:28 PM (4.7 ft)
- Low: 11:48 AM (0.9 ft)
Best Fishing Times: Dawn (6:00-8:00 AM) and dusk (5:30-7:30 PM) around tide changes
🎣 What to Expect This Week
- Bass fishing good early morning/evening as water cools
- Catfish action peaks at Lake Nacimiento
- Ocean fishing excellent for rockfish and lingcod - wait for wind to calm
- Fall salmon opportunity - check CDFW regulations
- Conditions improving significantly mid-week
🎣 Get Your Gear Ready
Check our Fishing Guide for species info and regulations.
Tight lines, Central Coast! 🎣
Data Sources: USGS, NOAA, NDBC Buoy 46011