SLO County Fishing Report — October 16, 2026
Fridaygauge Port San Luis / Morro Bay · NOAA 94121102 water bodies
There is a newer report: SLO County Fishing Report — October 20, 2026 →
Verdicts by place
Morro Bay offshore
Good3–5 ftwater 68°F
Seas 3-5 ft; NE 10-20 kt this morning, N 15-25 kt this afternoon
Lake Nacimiento
GoodBass solid, fall feeding patterns active
Lopez Lake
GoodBass steady on shad patterns
Santa Margarita Lake
FairBass fair, fish holding deeper
Tides for the day
| 1:18 PM high | 4.8 ft |
|---|---|
| 9:50 PM low | 0.8 ft |
- range
- 4.1 ft
- sunrise
- 7:10 AM
- sunset
- 6:27 PM
Predictions from NOAA Tides & Currents. 14-day calendar →
Bite grid
excellentgoodfairslownoted
| Species | Nacimiento | Morro Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Bass | goodlargemouth · white | not reported |
| Crappie / panfish | good | not reported |
| Rockfish | not reported | excellent |
| Lingcod | not reported | excellent |
By water
from the reportNot reported.
- Largemouth bass good On topwater and subsurface lures
- White bass Active near shad schools
- Crappie good Near submerged structure
None listed.
- Status Good
Shad are driving the bass. Small swimbaits, spinnerbaits and slow crawdad patterns.
Marine forecast
seaswindas written in the report
- Today
- seas
- 3–5 ft
- wind
- N 15–25 kt
this afternoon, NE 10-20 kt this morning
- Tonightlighter
- seas
- 3–4 ft
- wind
- N 5–10 kt
becoming NE after midnight
- Saturdaylighter
- seas
- 3–4 ft
- wind
- W 10–15 kt
in the afternoon, NE 5-10 kt in the morning
- Sunday
- seas
- 5–7 ft
- wind
- NW 10–20 kt
in the afternoon, light winds in the morning
Full report2 min read ›
Seas of 3-5 ft make this a fishable day offshore, best in the morning before the north wind builds.
Conditions Overview
The long period swell keeps easing on Friday, and the northerly wind builds to 15-25 kt this afternoon. On the lakes the water is cooling and fish are feeding.
Lake Fishing Reports
Lake Nacimiento
Status: Good
Bass fishing is solid now that the fall pattern has set in. Fish feed hard during midday windows.
What's Biting:
- Largemouth bass: Good on topwater and subsurface lures
- White bass: Active near shad schools
- Crappie: Good near submerged structure
Tips: Shad are driving the bass. Small swimbaits, spinnerbaits and slow crawdad patterns.
Lopez Lake
Status: Good
Bass action is steady on shad patterns.
- Bass: Steady on shad patterns
Tips: Small swimbaits in chrome/silver.
Santa Margarita Lake
Status: Fair
- Bass: Fair, holding deeper as the water cools
Ocean Fishing - Morro Bay
Status: Good Conditions: Seas easing, north wind building this afternoon Water Temp: ~68°F (NDBC 46011, Santa Maria, morning) Wave Height: 3-5 ft (forecast)
The long period swell is still easing, leaving 3-5 ft seas, with NE 10-20 kt this morning. Smaller boats can go out today, and morning trips get the flattest water.
Current Ocean Data (Buoy 46011 - Santa Maria):
- Wind: NW at 3-8 m/s (7-18 mph)
- Wave Height: 1.2-1.5 m (4-5 ft)
- Wave Period: 12-16 seconds (long period swell)
- Water Temp: 68°F (NDBC 46011, Santa Maria, morning)
- Air Temp: 69°F (21°C)
- Barometric Pressure: 1016 hPa (steady)
Marine Forecast:
- Today: N 15-25 kt this afternoon, NE 10-20 kt this morning, seas 3-5 ft
- Tonight: N 5-10 kt, becoming NE after midnight, seas 3-4 ft
- Saturday: W 10-15 kt in the afternoon, NE 5-10 kt in the morning, seas 3-4 ft
- Sunday: NW 10-20 kt in the afternoon, light winds in the morning, seas 5-7 ft
NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard, zone PZZ645 (Point Piedras Blancas to Point Sal), issued 233 AM PDT Fri Oct 16 2026.
What's Biting:
- Rockfish - Excellent action over rocky structure (60-150 ft)
- Lingcod - Strong action
Morro Bay Landing (Oct 15): Endeavor, 3/4 day, 16 anglers: 65 rockfish, 49 bocaccio, 25 red rockfish, 16 copper rockfish, 16 lingcod. Patriot Sportfishing (Oct 15): Sunny Day, 3/4 day, 4 anglers: 29 rockcod, 7 bolina, 2 lingcod, 1 yellowtail. Counts: SportfishingReport.com dock totals, Oct 15.
Weekend
Saturday looks pleasant, with 3-4 ft seas. Seas build to 5-7 ft on Sunday and 6-8 ft on Monday, when the NW wind reaches 15-25 kt in the afternoon.