Lingcod action busts open in Brookings

BROOKINGS, Ore. ( March 20, 2023) — Stormy seas and gusty winds subsided in mid-March, allowing the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet to get to the lingcod grounds, where action was wide open. Our six-pack charter boats and the Nauti-Lady returned with limits or near limits of lingcod and a nice grade of rockfish during a week of consecutive trips. It has been some of the best lingcod fishing we have seen in recent years on our local half-day charters.

Lingcod move into shallow water during the late winter to spawn, putting them within closer range of the sport fleet. The best fishing has been from Bird Island to House Rock. With decades of combined experience, the Brookings Fishing Charters crew is dialed in on targeting lingcod when they are close to shore. Our boats are equipped with high-performance sonar and top-quality light tackle set ups to catch lingcod in 20 to 50 feet of water.

Rough weather kept our fleet at the docks for most of the first three months of 2023, but calmer seas beginning last week allowed the Nauti-Lady, Miss Brooke, Papa B and Kraken to head offshore. Fishing has been very good for lingcod, and rockfish. We have seen a nice variety of black, blue, canary, vermilion, China, copper and yellowtail rockfish. This year anglers in Oregon can once again keep China and copper rockfish. Quillback rockfish, along with yelloweye rockfish, must be released. We also have seen large numbers of cabezon, which must be released through the end of June. Cabezon season opens July 1.

Our biggest lingcod so far this season is a 28-pounder, caught March 19 on the Nauti-Lady during our 6-hour targeted lingcod trip. We also have seen a few other lingcod over 20 pounds. Most of the lings are in the 5- to 10-pound range, with a few a day in the mid teens.

We are offering 4-hour half-day bottom fishing trips all season, as well as our popular 6-plus hour targeted lingcod trips. The Point St. George Reef Lighthouse area opens May 15. Pacific halibut opens May 1, with the best fishing in late June, July and August.

Federal officials will adopt ocean salmon seasons during a meeting in early April. The season is expected to open June 17 out of Brookings for hatchery coho. King salmon season will be closed in the ocean in California and much of Oregon this summer. The Chetco and Smith rivers, however, will still be open to king salmon fishing this fall.

Here are some of the limits of lingcod caught over the weekend on our charters boats.

Our boats are ready for the upcoming spring break holidays. We will be offering morning and afternoon charters during the weekends, weather permitting, and morning charters every day. To book, call (541) 813-1082, or visit www.brookingsfishing.com.