We’ve missed you, and are ready to take you fishing again. The stay-home mandates from the state of Oregon have sidelined our ocean charters for the past month, but we are now resuming private charters (smaller individual groups) and expect to expand to mixed charters again in early May. We have been in close communication with ODFW and the Oregon State Marine Board, other Oregon Coast charter businesses, and local elected leaders in making this decision to open back up.
Brookings is taking steps to re-open its motels and other businesses.
Please understand that social distancing guidelines still apply. We are comfortable in our ability run run ocean charters while abiding by the governor’s executive order on social distancing. Today, the Curry County commissioners voted to begin re-opening motels and RV parks. Motels should be open by May 1. Restaurants in Brookings are open for take-out and soon may be open to dine in. The Port of Brookings is open for business.
Please be aware, the communities of the Oregon Coast have limited medical facilities and many local residents are concerned about visitors returning. Please be respectful of local residents and maintain the 6 feet of social distancing and avoid businesses outside of the tourism and visitor industry.
While we have been waiting for the curve to flatten, our crew has been fishing with family members and local friends and are glad to report the fishing has been good. We will have a nice rockfish and lingcod season this spring and summer, and the outlook for halibut and salmon is good. The weather is beautiful on the coast and the fresh air and great ocean fishing is a sure cure for spring fever. To book a trip, visit www.brookingsfishing.com or call (541) 813-1082.
Aside from the thrill of catching them, the great thing about an Oregon Coast albacore tuna trip is the mountain of fillets anglers end up when they get back to the docks. An albacore trip will yield an immense amount of prime fish, which is best enjoyed fresh, and canned for meals later in the year.
Most anglers can (pressure cook) their albacore. After opening a jar or can and making a tuna sandwich, you’ll never buy the grocery store tuna again.
Albacore tuna can be abundant off the Oregon Coast during the summer. These were caught during the 2019 season by Brookings Fishing Charters customers aboard The Dash.
Here are a couple of our favorite albacore tuna recipes.
Albacore Tuna Noodle Casserole
We all had tuna noodle casserole growing up. It was an easy meal for mom or grandma to make to feed a lot of people without putting much of a dent in the grocery budget. Fresh or canned albacore tuna adds a new twist to this timeless comfort food recipe, with a taste that will keep you from having it any other way again.
Albacore Tuna Noodle Casserole can be made with fresh or canned albacore.
A can or two of albacore tuna is the key ingredient for this casserole. If fresh tuna is available, simply grill a fillet or two, or use the leftovers from the Bacon Wrapped Grilled Albacore recipe below.
Albacore Tuna Noodle Casserole
2 to 3 cups wide egg noodles
1 to 2 cans albacore tuna (drained), or 1 pound fresh tuna (grilled)
1 tablespoon butter
2 stalks celery, diced
1 small onion, diced
1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 cup frozen peas and carrots (defrosted)
1/2 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon dried or fresh parsley
Topping
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon parsley
The mixed ingredients.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Boil noodles according to package instructions and drain.
While the noodles are cooking, saute the chopped onion, celery and parsley in butter.
In a large bowl, combined the drained canned tuna, or grilled tuna broken into small pieces, and add noodles, onion and celery, soup, peas and carrots, milk and cheese. For even creamier casserole, add 4 ounces whipped cream cheese, or 1/2 cup sour cream.
The topping.
In another bowl, combine the topping ingredients. Add melted butter, bread crumbs, cheese and parsley. Panko style bread crumbs work well, but Italian or plain bread crumbs also will work.
The casserole will be baked at 425 degrees in a glass baking dish. Add the casserole mix, and then sprinkle with the topping.
Bake at 425 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes.
The cheese will be melted and the bread crumbs will be toasted when casserole is done, usually in 18 to 20 minutes.Albacore Tuna Noodle Casserole.
Bacon Wrapped Grilled Albacore
Another favorite Oregon Coast Albacore tuna recipe is bacon-wrapped grilled albacore. This is especially good with fresh albacore loins.
Bacon-wrapped grilled albacore tuna.
Bacon-wrapped grilled albacore is a summertime treat on the Oregon Coast. The bacon helps keep the albacore tuna moist while it is barbecued, and when combined with the teriyaki marinade adds an amazing flavor.
Start by cutting an albacore tuna loin in 2-inch pieces. Wrap each with a slice of bacon, secured with a tooth pick.
Place the chunks of albacore tuna in a large plastic bowl or glass dish and marinate in teriyaki sauce. Yoshida’s teriyaki is a good choice. Marinate for 2 to 4 hours.
Albacore tuna cooks quickly on a grill. Be careful not to cook at too high of a temperature, as the outside will become well done while the middle remains raw. Turn the albacore a couple of times, redipping in the teriyaki sauce.
Remove the tooth picks before eating.
The albacore will change color when done, turning almost white. Be sure to remove remove the toothpicks before eating.
Capt. Rye and Capt. Mick hold albacore tuna caught aboard The Dash of Brookings Fishing Charters.Trolling for albacore tuna aboard The Dash. Brookings Fishing Charters customer Don Williams with an albacore caught aboard The Dash in 2019.
To book an albacore tuna trip with Brookings Fishing Charters, call (541) 813-1082 and ask to be on our call list. Trips can also be booked at www.brookingsfishing.com.
There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the ocean salmon season approved today (April 10, 2020) for the Ports of Brookings and Gold Beach. Although the June 20-Aug. 7 season is shorter than most years, running only 48 days, it takes place during the peak time of the year for salmon fishing out of Brookings. Late June and early July often produce substantially better fishing than the rest of the year.
This summer’s ocean salmon seasons runs June 20-Aug. 7 out of Brookings. These kings were caught in July 2018 aboard the Miss Brooke of Brookings Fishing Charters.
Anyone who spent time trolling for salmon off of Brookings in June and July last year, and later in August on the Rogue Bay, likely noticed the very large number of jacks, or 2-year-old salmon. You often couldn’t get through them to catch a larger adult salmon. Those jacks are a key indicator of the following year’s run. Lots of jacks and shakers last year should equate to plenty of keeper-size adults this summer.
A nice king caught offshore of Brookings last summer aboard The Dash of Brookings Fishing Charters.
The majority of the salmon caught out of Brookings are from the Sacramento, Feather, American and Mokelumne rivers in Northern California. Those rivers have a 2020 ocean abundance of 473,200 adult kings, up from last year’s pre-season forecast of 379,000. Those shakers caught and released last summer off of Brookings are likely part of that large population of Sacramento Valley salmon, which feed off of Southern Oregon and Northern California during the summer months before moving toward the San Francisco area later in the year, and then into the bay and delta.
These jack salmon caught on the Rogue Bay last August with Capt. Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters are an indication of a bigger run of adults this year.
Adding to the big numbers of salmon from the Sacramento River and its tributaries are salmon from the Klamath, Trinity and Rogue rivers. There are an estimated 186,000 adult kings from the Klamath and Trinity rivers in the ocean this year. That number is down from the 2019 forecast of 274,000, which led to the shorter ocean seasons this year to ensure enough fish make it back to the Klamath to spawn. The highest impacts on Klamath River salmon by anglers fishing out of Brookings and Crescent City are in August, resulting in the limiting fishing in August this year. The Rogue River has an ocean abundance of 256,900 this year. There were incredible numbers of jacks in the Rogue Bay last August, a sign there will be lots of larger 3- and 4-year-old king salmon this season.
Angler Bruce Beck holds a nice king caught in the ocean out of Brookings last June with Capt. Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters.
The overall ocean abundance for the Sacramento Valley, Klamath-Trinity and Rogue River totals 916,100 adult king salmon. The number is more than 1 million once salmon from the Chetco, Smith, Eel and other coastal rivers are added in.
A nice king salmon caught last July aboard the Miss Brooke with Capt. Travis Sallander.
When developing this year’s ocean salmon seasons, biologists warned the smaller forecast for the Klamath River would result in a shorter season than last year. Anglers and local residents testified at PFMC meetings that the preferred dates are late June and July, when salmon are most abundant off of Brookings. Anglers also pointed out May and early June can be windy, creating rough conditions on the salmon grounds 5 to 10 miles out from the Port of Brookings.
Smaller kings like this 25-incher caught last summer off of Brookings are an indicator of more adult kings the following year. A big forecast of salmon headed to the Sacramento River could result in good fishing this summer out of Brookings.
Brookings Fishing Charters targets salmon during the summer months by trolling herring, anchovies or sardines with downriggers or divers. Each of the captains have considerable ocean salmon experience off of Oregon. The Miss Brooke, Papa B, The Dash and ‘Bout Time are also among the fastest boats in the fleet, to quickly get anglers offshore to the salmon grounds.
This year’s limit is two king salmon per day at least 24 inches long. The ocean season is open seven days a week. Barbless hooks must be used.
When the salmon bite turns on, double hookups are common. These two kings were caught last June aboard the Miss Brooke of Brookings Fishing Charters.
After the ocean salmon seasons closes, Brookings Fishing Charters continues to run lingcod and rockfish charters out of Brookigs, along with California halibut, and fall salmon on the Rogue Bay in Gold Beach. Capt. Andy docks his guide sled at Jot’s Resort in Gold Beach to run bay salmon trips, and ocean lingcod and rockfish, and bay salmon combos.
Anglers Vince McKinley and Dan Westeren hold king salmon caught in August 2019 with Capt. Andy of Brookings Fishing Charters.
The Rogue Bay fishes best from early July through mid-September. During the Rogue season, anglers can keep two adult kings and five jack salmon per day.
To book an ocean charter with Brookings Fishing Charters, call (541) 813-1082 or visit www.brookingsfishing.com.
Brookings Fishing Charters continues to suspend its ocean charters until the social distancing mandates from the state of Oregon are relaxed. We are not running charters through mid-April, when we will re-evaluate the governor’s temporary closure on many businesses along the Oregon Coast. Currently, short-term lodging is not available. Motels and RV parks still open are now allowed to accept guests staying for less than 28 days. That is part of the state’s efforts to keep visitors from coming to the coast.
We are concerned about keeping our Oregon Coast communities safe during this social distancing period. So far, there have been no confirmed cased of coronavirus in Curry County. We are one of the few counties in Oregon without any cases so far. We also are deeply concerned about our crew, and other local businesses impacted by this. We will resume running charters as soon as possible.
Lingcod from a trip in late March aboard the Miss Brooke before we suspended charters because of social distancing mandates.
Ocean salmon seasons will be set next week by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. The season could open in mid-May, although there is word that could be delayed until June or even July. Halibut season will open May 1. We will run trips as the weather allows in May for Pacific halibut. The California halibut will start to show in mid- to late June. Last year, Brookings Fishing Charters was the only local charter company to consistently target Cali Hali.
Limits of lingcod caught in March before we temporarily suspended charters because of COVID-19.
We also were the only local charter to run multiple successful trips for albacore tuna. We will start those trips in June or early July, as the tuna get in closer. This is a popular trip, and we put a call list together to fill seats for it.
Lingcod and rockfish has been very good out of Brookings. During the social distancing, Capt. Andy, Capt. Mike and Capt. Rich have all taken family members fishing to fill their freezers as they await charters to resume. We expect lingcod and rockfish to continue to be good in April and May, when we start running again.
You can still book trips online. We prefer you use the online system for June and beyond. For dates in the near future, please call our booking office at (541) 813-1082.
Thank you for your patience as we get through this unprecedented time.
A few weeks ago, frequent customer Glenn Thill brought some smoked rockfish on the boat that was great: sweet, not too dry, good flavor. You wanted another piece after trying it. Glenn shared the ingredients with Capt. Andy, who tried a few versions before settling on this recipe.
Smoked rockfish is easy to make and delicious. This recipe yields a moist, sweet treat, and can also be used for salmon and other fish.
1 cup Yoshida’s original sweet teriyaki sauce 1 cup brown sugar 1/3 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
For those who like a more salty flavor, increasing the soy sauce to half a cup, or adding 1/3 cup salt is optional.
The main ingredients are brown sugar, Yoshida’s original teriyaki sauce, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce.
Cut the rockfish into small pieces, roughly three or four pieces per fillet.
Cut the rockfish fillets into small pieces. Each fillet will yield four pieces.
Brine in the Yoshida’s, brown sugar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce mixture for at least 12 hours.
Add the fish to the brine, and leave in the refrigerator overnight. The fish can be brined for two to three days
Without rinsing place on a drying screen for one hour.
Allow the fish to air dry in the smoke with the lid off for at least an hour before turning on heat and adding chips.Use thee pans of chips to smoke, then leave in smoke several more hours to finish.
Smoke, with three pans of chips, for 4 to 8 hours. Brush with sweet chili sauce and continue smoking until fish is done. You will know when fish is done when it easily breaks apart and turns from a translucent color to white inside.
After three pans of chips have been used, apply the first coast of sweet chili sauce. This will help keep the fish moist, and add a delicious sweet flavor.After smoking for three or four hours, brush the fish with sweet chili sauce again.
We’ve tried lots of smoked rockfish recipes. Rockfish tends to dry out quickly, and also can easily by too salty. This brine yields a moist piece of rockfish with a firm texture without being stringy.
The finished product, sweet chili smoked rockfish.Glenn Thill of Shady Cove, Ore., shared the ingredients for sweet chili smoked rockfish with us. Glenn is a frequent customer on our charter boats.
To catch a limit of rockfish to make your own smoked rockfish, visit our web site, www.brookingsfishing.com, or call our booking office, (541) 813-1082.
Just as the lingcod and rockfish action accelerated out of Brookings, and our charters were getting nice limits of both, new measures from the state of Oregon to combat the coronavirus pandemic have sidelined our charter boats for right now.
Brookings Fishing Charters has suspended ocean charters at this time, in accordance with the governor’s executive order regarding coronavirus. Happening during the busy Spring Break period, with many of the reservations made months ago, this is an especially difficult decision. We will be contacting customers booked during the upcoming two-week period to reschedule or process refunds of deposits. We hope to be fishing again sometime in April or early May. Our thoughts are with the countless families and small businesses here on the Oregon Coast financially impacted by this, the medical workers dealing with the pandemic, and our customers who will have to fish with us some other time. No cases of coronavirus have been confirmed on the Southern Oregon Coast, and obviously we hope that remains the case. We sincerely hope the spread of COVID-19 is quickly contained, and wish a positive outcome for anyone who comes in contact with it.
Limits of lingcod aboard the Miss Brooke in early March 2020.
Before we temporarily shut down, lingcod fishing was very good. We were seeing a nice grade of fish, with limits most trips, and limits of nice rockfish as well.
6 limits of lingcod caught aboard the Miss Brooke of Brookings Fishing Charters in March 2020.Nice limits of rockfish caught aboard the Papa B in March 2020.Glenn, a longtime customer, with a nice lingcod caught in March 2020 aboard the Miss Brooke of Brookings Fishing Charters.More lingcod limits caught aboard the Miss Brooke in March 2020 near Mack Arch.
A nice vermilion rockfish caught aboard the Miss Brooke in March 2020.
The 2020 ocean lingcod and rockfish season out of the Port of Brookings is off to a good start. The Brookings Fishing Charters fleet was the first charter company in Brookings to begin running charters this year, and the Miss Brooke, Papa B and ‘Bout Time have already run several dozen trips. When the weather is nice, fishing has been good, with limits of lingcod and rockfish. During rough weather days, rockfish are still biting well, but catch rates for lingcod have dropped.
A nice canary rockfish caught March 8, 2020, off the coast of Brookings aboard the Miss Brooke of Brookings Fishing Charters.
Overall, lingcod fishing has been good this season. There are big numbers of smaller male lingcod in shallow water, preparing to spawn. These fish are abundant and aggressive, and readily bite baits and jigs when the swell settles down. During a big swell, they hunker down and are somewhat more reluctant to bite. We have been catching lingcod as close at Chetco Point and south of the harbor, but generally are doing best between Bird Island and Mack Arch. We have already ventured to Mack Arch and Arch Rock several times this season.
An average-size lingcod from March 2020 aboard the Papa B. Lingcod fishing has been good so far this season.
Limits for rockfish and lingcod are unchanged for 2020. We can keep five rockfish a day, with any combination of black, blue and canary rockfish. Two lingcod a day may also be kept, in addition to the rockfish. The minimum size of lingcod remains 22 inches.
Ocean salmon season is expected to open in May. Final seasons will be set by the PFMC and ODFW in April. Pacific halibut season opens in May. We should start to see California halibut in early July. Brookings Fishing Charters Capt. Andy Martin was very successful at finding the CaliHali in 2019 near Brookings.
Pacific halibut season opens May 1 in Brookings. California halibut, like those pictured here, arrive in late June and early July. Capt. Andy will be running CaliHali trips again this summer in the guide sled.
We are now offering daily trips, as the weather allows, aboard the Miss Brooke, Papa B, The Dash, ‘Bout Time and guide sled. In March and April, trips will depart between 7 and 7:30 a.m. We will bump up the time in May.
Limits of lingcod from early March aboard the Miss Brooke. We have gone to Mack Arch several times already this season.
In between winter storms, we have experienced some of the best lingcod fishing of the year recently out of Brookings, as fish have moved into shallow water to prepare to spawn. We have run a handful of ocean charters in recent weeks, with good success for lingcod, black and blue rockfish and canary rockfish.
Limits of lingcod in November aboard the Miss Brooke.Capt. Andy Martin holds a Smith River king salmon caught the day before Thanksgiving on a MagLip plug.
We will continue to run ocean charters as the weather allows this winter.
We also are running salmon and steelhead river trips from the drift boats on the Chetco and Smith rivers. With little rain this fall, the Chetco has been closed, but the Smith has had a few openers, with good salmon fishing. A big storm is expected this week, and an opening is anticipated on the Chetco.
The ocean salmon season and Pacific halibut seasons are now open out of Brookings. Although the weather has been rough in recent weeks with only a few days that boats have been able to get offshore, there are some halibut and salmon being caught.
Brookings Fishing Charters once again has the distinction of getting a customer into the first Pacific halibut of the year, as well the first salmon of the season caught aboard a charter boat.
The first salmon of the season caught aboard a charter boat out of Brookings was landed May 27 by Cody Anderson aboard the Miss Brooke of Brookings Fishing Charters.
Salmon season runs May 25-Sept. 2. Hatchery coho can be kept beginning June 22. During its first trip offshore, the Miss Brooke landed five salmon, but only one keeper Chinook, a 30-incher caught by Cody Anderson of Brookings. The customers also released a pair of coho, including a hatchery coho. There also were some shakers (salmon too small to keep). Anchovies and pelicans have arrived off of Brookings, so bigger numbers of salmon should move close to shore within the next few days.
Capt. Andy Martin holds the first Pacific halibut of the season caught out of Brookings in early May.
Halibut season runs May 1-Oct. 31 out of Brookings. There have only been a few days calm enough to reach the halibut grounds. Capt. Andy ran a halibut trip in early May, during which his customers caught a Pacific halibut, several petrale soul and a few dozen sand dabs. They then went in close for limits of rockfish and a few lingcod.
Customers aboard the Miss Brooke hold some of the rockfish and a salmon they caught May 27.
Fishing for bottom fish has been good out of Brookings in recent weeks, even though windy weather has kept boats in close. The grade of rockfish has been excellent, with a nice mix of canary, black and blue rockfish. Lingcod fishing has been fair.
Peak season for salmon is quickly approaching, and Brookings Fishing Charters has four boats available each day for charters. To book online, visit www.brookingsfishing.com, or call our office at (541) 813-1082.
We are huge fans of fish tacos, and like to share our favorite recipe with customers. Here is a quick and delicious way to prepare fish tacos with Oregon Coast rockfish or lingcod.
