Journal • SLO County Fishing Report — October 18, 2026

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SLO County Fishing Report — October 18, 2026

Sundaygauge Port San Luis / Morro Bay · NOAA 94121104 water bodies

There is a newer report: SLO County Fishing Report — October 20, 2026 →

Verdicts by place

  • Lake Nacimiento

    Good

    742.1 ft33% capacity

    Bass solid, fall feeding patterns active

  • Santa Margarita Lake

    Good

    Largemouth improving with cooling water

  • Lopez Lake

    Good

    510.0 ft78% capacity

    Bass steady on shad patterns

  • San Antonio Lake

    Fair

    737.8 ft47% capacity

    Catfish good, bass slow

  • Morro Bay offshore

    Good

    4–6 ftNW 5–10 kt

    Light winds and 4-6 ft seas today; 6-8 ft tonight and Monday

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

Tides for the day

0 ft1 ft2 ft3 ft4 ft5 ft6 ft12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM7:08 AM · 3.8 ft10:48 AM · 3.6 ft4:00 PM · 4.3 ft11:57 PM · 0.7 ft
NOAA high and low tides
7:08 AM high3.8 ft
10:48 AM low3.6 ft
4:00 PM high4.3 ft
11:57 PM low0.7 ft
range
3.6 ft
sunrise
7:12 AM
sunset
6:25 PM

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

Bite grid

excellentgoodfairslownoted

SpeciesMorro BayNacimientoLopezSan Antonio
Rockfishexcellentnot reportednot reportednot reported
Lingcodexcellentnot reportednot reportednot reported
Halibutfairnot reportednot reportednot reported
Salmonslownot reportednot reportednot reported

By water

from the report
Water
  • Wind NW 5-10 kts (gusts up to 15 kts)
  • Wave Height 4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m)
  • Wave Period 12-17 seconds
  • Water Temp 69.1°F (NDBC 46011, Santa Maria, morning)
  • Air Temp 68-70°F (20-21°C)
  • Water Temp 67-68°F (NDBC 46215, Diablo Canyon, morning)
What's biting
  • Rockfish excellent Action in 60-150 ft
  • Lingcod excellent Strong
  • Halibut fair Along beaches and at Cayucos Pier
  • Salmon slow The ocean salmon season south of Pigeon Point ended Sep 30.
Lures & bait

None listed.

  • Barometric Pressure 1014.5 hPa - falling slightly
  • Morro Bay Landing (Oct 17) Starfire, 3/4 day, 25 anglers: 154 rockfish, 41 lingcod, 25 red rockfish, 15 copper rockfish.
  • Patriot Sportfishing (Oct 17) Patriot, 1/2 day, 21 anglers: 145 rockcod, 23 copper rockfish, 10 red rockcod, 7 bocaccio.

Marine forecast

seaswindas written in the report

  1. Todaylighter
    seas
    4–6 ft
    wind
    NW 10–15 kt

    this afternoon, light winds this morning

  2. Tonight
    seas
    6–8 ft
    wind
    NW 10–20 kt
  3. Monday
    seas
    6–8 ft
    wind
    NW 10–20 kt
  4. Tuesdaylighter
    seas
    4–6 ft
    wind
    NE 5–10 kt

    becoming S in the afternoon

Full report2 min read ›

Today is the ocean day, with light winds and 4-6 ft seas. Seas build to 6-8 ft tonight and Monday, then ease to 4-6 ft on Tuesday.

Ocean Conditions Alert

Seas are 4-6 ft today and build to 6-8 ft tonight as the NW wind rises to 10-20 kt.

Current Conditions from NDBC Buoy 46011 (Santa Maria):

  • Wind: NW 5-10 kts (gusts up to 15 kts)
  • Wave Height: 4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m)
  • Wave Period: 12-17 seconds
  • Water Temp: 69.1°F (NDBC 46011, Santa Maria, morning)
  • Air Temp: 68-70°F (20-21°C)
  • Barometric Pressure: 1014.5 hPa - falling slightly

Marine Forecast:

  • Today: NW 10-15 kt this afternoon, light winds this morning, seas 4-6 ft
  • Tonight: NW 10-20 kt, seas 6-8 ft
  • Monday: NW 10-20 kt, seas 6-8 ft
  • Tuesday: NE 5-10 kt, becoming S in the afternoon, seas 4-6 ft

NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard, zone PZZ645 (Point Piedras Blancas to Point Sal), issued 229 AM PDT Sun Oct 18 2026.

Lake Fishing Reports

Lake Nacimiento

  • Water Level: 742.1 ft, 125,709 AF (33% of capacity), CDEC NCM, Oct 18.
  • Clarity: Clear to slightly stained

What's Biting:

  • Largemouth bass - GOOD - fall feeding patterns active
  • White bass - Good near shad schools
  • Crappie - Good on submerged structure

Best Lures: Spinnerbaits, swimbaits (shad colors), topwater early morning, drop-shots

Tips: Shad schools are driving the bass. Fish the main lake points and the narrows.

Santa Margarita Lake

  • Clarity: Stained

What's Biting:

  • Largemouth bass - GOOD - improving with cooling water
  • Crappie - Good near brush piles at dusk/dawn
  • Catfish - Good on cut bait at night

Best Lures: Deep-diving crankbaits, drop-shots, Texas rigs

Tips: Fish hold deeper at midday.

Lopez Lake

  • Water Level: 510.0 ft, 38,666 AF (78% of capacity), CDEC LOP, Oct 18.
  • Clarity: Clear

What's Biting:

  • Bass - GOOD - steady on shad patterns
  • Bluegill - Good near docks
  • Crappie - Fair on deep brush

Best Lures: Small swimbaits (chrome/silver), spinnerbaits, crawdad jigs

San Antonio Lake

  • Water Level: 737.8 ft, 154,009 AF (47% of capacity), CDEC ATN, Oct 18.
  • Clarity: Slightly stained

What's Biting:

  • Bass - Fair - slow due to low water
  • Catfish - GOOD on chicken liver
  • Trout - Slow - try PowerBait at dawn

Tips: The low water limits access, so launch carefully and fish the deep pockets that are left.

Ocean Fishing: Morro Bay

Go out today, or wait for the 4-6 ft seas on Tuesday. Seas build through tonight and Monday.

When conditions improve, expect:

  • Rockfish: Excellent action in 60-150 ft
  • Lingcod: Strong
  • Halibut: Fair along beaches and at Cayucos Pier
  • Salmon: Closed. The ocean salmon season south of Pigeon Point ended Sep 30.

Morro Bay Landing (Oct 17): Starfire, 3/4 day, 25 anglers: 154 rockfish, 41 lingcod, 25 red rockfish, 15 copper rockfish. Patriot Sportfishing (Oct 17): Patriot, 1/2 day, 21 anglers: 145 rockcod, 23 copper rockfish, 10 red rockcod, 7 bocaccio. Counts: SportfishingReport.com dock totals, Oct 17.

Water Temp: 67-68°F (NDBC 46215, Diablo Canyon, morning)

Later This Week

Tuesday should be fair with light winds. Showers are possible Wednesday.

Data Sources: NDBC Buoys 46011 and 46215, NWS zone PZZ645, CDEC

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