Map

Santa Margarita Lake

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

California, United States

4.5·1814 catches

Top fish species at Santa Margarita Lake

App Section

Check which species have trophy potential in Santa Margarita Lake

Santa Margarita Lake fishing reports

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Bluegill

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Bluegill

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Greengill hybrid

length · weight

fish catches icon
recently logged catches
Loading...

Bluegill

length · weight

Fishbrain
More catches in the app...

Continue browsing catches and catch locations in the Fishbrain app

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

General info

Santa Margarita Lake is a lake located in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. It is most popular for fishing Largemouth bass, Bluegill, and Spotted bass.

Location

35°19′42.8″N 120°28′56.7″W
Directions

Official website

www.dbw.ca.gov

Amenities

When are Largemouth Bass biting on Santa Margarita Lake?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at Santa Margarita Lake. Download Fishbrain today to look for new fishing spots, scout new fishing access, or prep for your next trip.

Bite time image

Fishing regulations at Santa Margarita Lake, CA

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in California can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

License Icon
Local laws and licenses

California fishing license

Get license

Reviews of Santa Margarita Lake

4.5
Loading...

40 ratings

5
4
3
2
1
Top reviews

Cities nearby

Santa Margarita

8.2 miles away

San Luis Obispo

11.4 miles away

Creston

13.2 miles away

Arroyo Grande

15.3 miles away

Atascadero

15.6 miles away

Grover Beach

16.3 miles away

Los Osos

19.4 miles away

Nipomo

20.5 miles away

Whitley Gardens

22.8 miles away

Shandon

23.1 miles away

El Paso de Robles

23.6 miles away

Cayucos

23.9 miles away

Guadalupe

25.9 miles away

Santa Maria

27.4 miles away

Orcutt

32.1 miles away

Sisquoc

33.9 miles away

Casmalia

34.0 miles away

Lake Nacimiento

35.3 miles away

Cambria

37.2 miles away

Vandenberg AFB

40.2 miles away

Oak Shores

40.9 miles away

Bradley

41.1 miles away

San Simeon

41.9 miles away

San Ardo

53.6 miles away

Anything missing or inaccurate?

Suggest changes to improve what we show.

Suggest changes

FAQ about Santa Margarita Lake fishing

📍 Where is Santa Margarita Lake located?
Santa Margarita Lake is a lake located in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. Its coordinates are:
35°19′42.8″N 120°28′56.7″W
.
🎣 Where on Santa Margarita Lake is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Santa Margarita Lake by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in Santa Margarita Lake?
The most common species in Santa Margarita Lake are:
  • Largemouth bass - 314 members reported to have caught this fish
  • Bluegill - 52 members reported to have caught this fish
  • Spotted bass - 34 members reported to have caught this fish
📢 What are the latest Santa Margarita Lake fishing reports?
The latest Santa Margarita Lake fishing reports are:
🗓️ What species are in season at Santa Margarita Lake right now?
According to fishing regulations at Santa Margarita Lake, some of the species in season this June include: Chinook salmon, Lingcod, Pacific halibut, Cabezon, and Copper rockfish. For full details on other species — including bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits, and seasonal closures — download the .
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at Santa Margarita Lake?

Fishing in California requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Options include daily, annual, or combination licenses for residents and non-residents, purchasable online or at sporting goods stores.

In California, no fishing license is required for anglers under 16. There is no universal senior exemption. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

Get license
App Section
Download Fishbrain and fish smarter
Unlimited access to the best fishing spot finder in the game. Get all the fishing intel you need to start catching more, and bigger, fish.

Free trial available

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...