Brookings producing best salmon catches on entire Oregon Coast

BROOKINGS, Ore. (May 11, 2026) – More salmon are being caught out of the Port of Brookings than any other area of the Oregon Coast so far this season, and the totals aren’t even close. Through May 3, a total of 2,137 king salmon have been landed by sport anglers in Brookings. Coastwide, the total from Astoria to Brookings is 2,460 kings salmon, meaning all but 323 have been caught out of Brookings. Newport was the second closest port with 161 kings.

The numbers released by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife don’t include last week’s totals, and fishing Monday through Thursday of last week was wide open. Private boaters and charter boats have been reporting good catches so far this season, which opened March 15 and runs through August. The best catch rates for charter boats have been aboard the Miss Brooke, Dash and Little Cleo, all running out of the Brookings Fishing Charters office. Anglers have been averaging a fish per rod, and many days full limits have been caught.

The peak salmon season out of Brookings generally takes place in June and July, meaning the best fishing is still to come. This year’s ocean abundance forecasts for the Klamath and Sacramento rivers is 750,000 adult king salmon. Those rivers contribute to the catches off of Brookings each year, along with salmon from the Rogue, Smith, Eel, Columbia, Snake and Chetco rivers. With an abundance of baitfish off of Brookings right now, a large portion of the West Coast salmon run is feeding off of Southern Oregon and Northern California.

The Miss Brooke with Capt. Chris and Capt. Travis has been consistently catching kings trolling anchovies behind Yakima Bait Fish Flash flashers and divers. Downriggers also are being used to fish deeper water, but most of the fish so far this season have been caught close to the surface.

Two king salmon a day may be kept out of Brookings this year, with wild or hatchery fish allowed to be harvested. Beginning June 6, hatchery coho salmon also may be kept.

To book an ocean salmon charter out of Brookings, call (541) 813-1082 or book online at www.brookingsfishing.com.

Here are some more catches from the 2026 season aboard the Miss Brooke, Dash and Little Cleo.