Fishing Reports

Albacore tuna, Pacific halibut, lingcod action heats up

BROOKINGS, Ore. (Aug. 6, 2023) – Two weeks of mostly nice ocean conditions resulted in some of the best fishing of the entire year to end July and begin August, as the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet enjoyed excellent catches of lingcod and rockfish at the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse. The first albacore tuna of the season also were caught last week, and offshore halibut action heated up.

**Some of the albacore tuna caught last week aboard the Kraken out of Brookings.**

Mid-summer is a premier time to fish out of Brookings, as good weather often results in good fishing. Limits of big rockfish and limits or near limits of lingcod have been common at the lighthouse. A few lingcod close to 30 pounds were caught in recent weeks, while plenty of 10- to 15-pounders and several over 20 pounds were brought in by Brookings Fishing Charters customers. Fishing at the lighthouse will continue through mid-October.

**Capt. Andy holds an albacore tuna caught aboard the Nauti-Lady last week.**

**Some of the nice tuna caught aboard the Miss Brooke last week.**

With calm ocean conditions, Brookings Fishing Charters sent its entire fleet out for albacore tuna last week. The office quickly put trips together based on the tuna call list (call 541-813-1082 to get on it), and nearly 30 customers were able to get out on the Miss Brooke, Kraken, Nauti-Lady, Papa B and Dash. It took a few hours to find the fish, then the action was wide open, with a 50-fish-per-boat average. Trolling tuna clones with rod and reel produced the best action, as the captains found 62-degree water offshore of Pistol River. The action was non-stop until the boats ran out of ice and cooler space for the tuna.

**A few tuna from the Nauti-Lady last week.**

**Happy customers with their tuna catch from the Papa B last week.**

More tuna trips are expected this week of weather conditions calm down as expected Wednesday and Thursday. Tuna charters are a 10- to 12-hour trip.

**Limits of halibut caught in early August aboard the Dash.**

Halibut action also improved again last week after a lull in mid-July. The Dash ran a trip over the weekend with full two-fish-per-person limits of Pacific halibut, with fish to 50 pounds caught. Calm weather this week is allow charters to get back offshore for halibut.

Oregon is now the only option for halibut fishing, as the Pacific halibut quota has been reached in California waters. Halibut season runs through October out of Brookings.

**Trophy-size vermillion rockfish caught last week aboard the Miss Brooke.**

**A 29-pound lingcod caught aboard the Nauti-Lady at Mack Arch.**

**Limits of lingcod caught at the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse.**

On local half-day bottom fishing charters, limits of rockfish are being caught, with fair action on lingcod. A 29-pound lingcod was caught last week aboard the Nauti-Lady at Mack Arch.

Fishing charters may be booked online at www.brookingsfishing.com, or by calling (541) 813-1082.

Here are a few more catch photos from the end of July and beginning of August.