Astronomical predictions from the NOAA Tide Predictions for Morro Bay indicate the peak morning king tides for late November will reach their maximum astronomical height on Wednesday, November 25, 2026.

Note: Because baseline sea levels are running roughly 1 foot + above normal due to the strong coastal Kelvin wave and El Niño cycle, the actual water lines will likely exceed the standard predictions.

THE KING TIDES HAVE ARRIVED!

You are responsible for readying your own watercraft!

The results of not preparing, positioning, and tethering your boats appropriately for the current tidal events

• Move watercraft well above the ‘New’ Flood Line. Do not rely on the previous "high water mark."   Move smallcraft completely out of the tidal floodway.
  

• Position the boat perpendicular to the shoreline.
  

• Face kayaks and canoes upside down to prevent rain and spray from filling the hull, which adds hundreds of pounds of stress to the vessel and is incredibly difficult to empty.
  

• For large sailing vessels use heavy-duty ratchet straps or cam straps anchored to a fixed auger.  Use a 3pt. tethering system, secure the bow, stern, and belly.

Cuesta Inlet is a gorgeous, shallow, back-bay spot, so you'll want to keep an eye on the tide chart. At low tide, the mudflats stretch out everywhere, and you'll need a high tide to launch a kayak, paddleboard, or small boat without hassle. Cuesta Inlet is a fabulous waterway to paddle or sail, but get the depth wrong, and it can trap you fast.

During low tides (especially negative tides below 1.0 ft), the water recedes completely from the upper channels of the inlet, exposing thick, deep mud.

Paddling Advice: If you are planning a trip to the inlet, please plan to launch and return within 2 hours on either side of high tide. Avoid the area entirely when the tide drops below 2.5–3.0 feet unless you want to pull your watercraft through heavy mud.

*Please note: To calculate the tide height in the Back Bay of Morro Bay (such as Cuesta Inlet or Baywood), you must apply a +45-minute time delay to the standard Morro Bay tide charts. Because it takes time for the volume of ocean water to travel from the harbor entrance through the narrow channels down into the southern end of the estuary, the water level lags significantly behind the coast.

Examples of local Tide charts tide-forecast.com for Morro Bay:
https://www.tide-forecast.com/tide/Morro-Bay-California/tide-times

NOVEMBER TIDAL CHARTS*