Month: February 2022

2022 charter season off to great start

Unusually calm weather has allowed the Brookings Fishing Charters to run numerous ocean charters in January and February. So far this year, fishing has been great for lingcod and rockfish. Big schools of rockfish are being found in the close-in reefs near the harbor, and to the north from Chetco Point to Bird Island, Twin Rocks, House Rock and Mack Arch.

Each of the Brookings Fishing Charters boats – the Miss Brooke, Nauti-Lady, Kraken, Papa B, Dash and Bout Time – have run numerous trips. Limits of rockfish have been the norm, and lingcod fishing appears to be above average so far this season. A 25-pound lingcod caught aboard the Miss Brooke with Capt. Travis in early February is the largest so far this season.

Nice limits of lingcod caught aboard the Miss Brooke near Mack Arch.
A nice lingcod caught aboard the Nauti-Lady near Bird Island.
Happy customers aboard the Nauti-Lady.

With the calm weather, boats have been able to get up to Mack Arch, where there are plenty of large lingcod. Limits have been likely near Mack Arch.

Frequent customer John with a nice lingcod from the Miss Brooke.
More lingcod from the Mack Arch area.

The rockfish population has been thriving near Brookings. We are seeing large schools of black, blue and canary rockfish. The grade has been excellent. Anglers have been able to release smaller rockfish and focus on larger fish for their limits. Since our boats specialize in shallow water with light tackle, the fish are not injured as they are reeled up from the bottom. It is more difficult to release rockfish caught in 80 feet of water or more, but our charters often fish in 40 to 60 feet of water, or shallower.

A nice lingcod and very nice canary rockfish from the Miss Brooke.
A black rockfish and a blue rockfish caught aboard the Papa B.
Another double hookup on the Nauti-Lady.
It’s a triple! the rockfish action has been fast and furious so far this season.

On recent charters, our customers have caught a release numerous king salmon. The ocean salmon season won’t open until May or early June, but the abundance of salmon in the ocean right now near Brookings is a great sign. These are likely feeder kings that will return to the Klamath or Sacramento rivers. When they stack up near Brookings during the winter, they are usually still around by the time opening day arrives.

One of many salmon caught and released this winter during bottom fishing charters.
Frequent customer Vince with a nice lingcod aboard the Miss Brooke.
You’d be smiling too if you just caught a nice vermilion rockfish.
Deckhand Brent with a copper and quillback rockfish. The quillback was released, while coppers may be retained.
Nice lingcod from the Miss Brooke near Mack Arch.
Great catches from our first charter of the season on the Miss Brooke.
Capt. Mike fillets rockfish after a successful charter on the Papa B.
A big ling and a lunker rockfish make for a very happy young customer.
Rockfish are a blast on the light spinning tackle we use on all of our charter boats.
The Miss Brooke has been successful at finding nice lingcod on each charter so far this season.

The Brookings Fishing Charters fleets runs charters daily, weather permitting. Our six-pack boats are fast and perfect for smaller groups. Families and larger groups love the comfortable ride of the spacious Nauti-Lady, our 42-foot party boat.

To book a trip, visit www.brookingsfishing.com, or call our booking office at (541) 813-1082.

Kraken joins Brookings Fishing Charters

The super-fast, heavy-duty Kraken, a 27-foot six-pack offshore boat built by Armstrong Marine, is the latest addition to the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet. The Kaken began running trips out of Brookings this month, and joins the Miss Brooke, Nauti-Lady, Papa B, Dash and Bout Time as a premier Oregon Coast charter boat.

The Kraken joined the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet in February 2022.

Capt. Andy Martin purchased the Kraken and repowered the boat with twin Mercury outboards, and a new kicker trolling motor. Previously, the Kraken was a charter boat in Newport, Oregon, and specialized in ocean salmon and albacore tuna. It is one of the fastest charter boats on the coast, and its super duty hull is built to specifications of six-pack charter boats used in Alaska. It is capable of handling rough water, and cuts through chop while staying on plane. The Kraken will be used for all of the charter offerings by Brookings Fishing Charters, with an emphasis on Point St. George Reef Lighthouse trips, halibut charters, albacore tuna and ocean salmon.

Capt. Michael lifts a rockfish into the Kraken during a hot bite near Bird Island.

After its repower, the Kraken was able to reach speeds in the mid-40 mph range, with a cruising speed close to 30 knots in moderate chop. It is designed to get to and from the fishing grounds quickly to maximize the fishing time for the customers on board.

The Kraken has the most advanced electronics in the fleet, with high-end sonar, radar and charter plotters from RayMarine. It is equipped with auto pilot, auto trim tabs, and multiple sonars to easily locate schools of fish.

The first lingcod caught aboard the Kraken after it joined the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet.

The Kraken can comfortably seat six customers, plus crew. It is captained by Capt. Michael, Capt. Sam and Capt. Andy, depending on the trip. With insulated fish holds, under-deck storage for ice, and rails and outriggers, it is designed for long-range tuna trips. The spacious under-deck fish holds will allow anglers to load up on albacore.

One of three under-deck fish holds.

To book a trip aboard the Kraken, visit www.bookingsfishing.com or call (541) 813-1082.

The Kraken on the way to the fishing grounds.

Rockfish Puttanesca

By Capt. Andy Martin – One of the perks of running a charter boat on the Oregon Coast is an ample supply of rockfish and lingcod fillets to enjoy with our families and try new recipes with. One of the captains who runs out of the Brookings Fishing Charters office says his favorite way to enjoy rockfish is Rockfish Puttanesca, a delicious twist to a classic Italian dish that will have you coming back for seconds.

Start by finely chopping garlic and parsley.

Pasta Puttanesca is a simple, tasty alternative to traditional spaghetti with meatballs. Adding rockfish fillets makes the dish burst with flavor and appear much more elaborate, worthy of a spot on the menu of an expensive seafood or Italian restaurant. The recipe is actually quite simple, and costs less than $15 to make a meal for the entire family.

When the captain of one of our charters described his homespun recipe for Rockfish Puttanesca I was intrigued, and after experimenting a little, came up with this version. It is worth trying, and may become one of your favorite recipes for enjoying Oregon Coast rockfish.

Rockfish Puttanesca

2 to 6 rockfish fillets. Smaller fillets work best.

1/3 cup olive oil

5-6 cloves minced garlic

1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 flat anchovy fillets (2 ounces)

2 14.5-ounce cans crushed tomatoes (finely diced tomatoes will can be substituted)

1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted

1/4 cup capers

1 bunch chopped parsley

salt, garlic salt and pepper to taste

1 package (14-16 ounces) spaghetti

Parmesan cheese

Finley chop the garlic and parsley and set aside. Rinse rockfish fillets.

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Cook garlic for 1 minute, then add crushed red pepper and anchovy fillets. The anchovy fillets will break up. Cook for 1 more minute, and add olives, capers, parsley and crushed tomatoes. Add salt, pepper and garlic salt to taste. Bring to a boil, add rockfish fillets, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

Just after adding rockfish fillets and covering, bring a pot of water to a boil and cook spaghetti for 9-10 minutes. By the time the spaghetti is cooked and drained, the sauce will be finished. Removed cooked rockfish from sauce and place on a separate dish, then combine sauce and spaghetti and mix well.

Add a rockfish fillet to each serving of the puttanesca. Serve with grated parmesan cheese.

Saute the anchovy fillets, crushed red pepper flakes and garlic.
Add olives, parsley and capers.
Add two cans crushed tomatoes. Stir well.
After bringing sauce to a boil, add rockfish fillets. Cover, lower heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
The rockfish fillets will cook in the sauce.
Once the rockfish is cooked, remove from sauce and set aside.
Toss pasta and sauce.
Serve a rockfish fillet with each portion of puttanesca.

To catch a limit of rockfish to make Rockfish Puttanesca and other tasty seafood recipes, book a trip with any of the Brookings Fishing Charters charter boats. Learn more at www.brookingsfishing.com.