Tag: 2021 Brookings fishing report

Lighthouse re-opens to fishing May 1

BROOKINGS, Ore. (April 21, 2024) – One of the most productive areas for saltwater fishing on the entire West Coast re-opens to fishing May 1, giving anglers access to some of the best lingcod and rockfish action outside of Alaska.

Point St. George Reef, where the historic lighthouse atop Northwest Seal Rock is located, will be open to sport fishing May 1-September. The area closed abruptly last August, but will remain open all summer in water less than 120 feet. The productive reef is a top destination for trophy lingcod, colorful vermilion and canary rockfish, and abundant black and blue rockfish. Both the lingcod and rockfish are among the highest overall weight on the entire coast, and the action is often fast and furious for sport anglers.

Limits of nice lingcod are common when fishing near the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse. The Miss Brooke is one of the Brookings Fishing Charters boats that frequents the lighthouse.

The Brookings Fishing Charters crew will begin trips May 1 with their fast six-pack charter boats, as well as the 42-foot Nauti-Lady. Located between Brookings and Crescent City just south of the California border, the lighthouse and Point St. George Reef are a customer favorite. Lingcod to 40 pounds are caught each season, along with a larger variety of rockfish, and occasionally Pacific halibut.

Brookings Fishing Charters runs trips to the lighthouse, utilizing light tackle to fish in shallow water. The charter captains are among the most experienced anglers in the region, with Capt. Mick and Capt. Sam both growing up in Crescent City and fishing the lighthouse area their entire life, while Capt. Andy, Capt. Travis and Capt. Kirby grew up in Brookings, and also have considerable experience at the lighthouse, and together have half a century of experience running charters in the area.

Tiger rockfish, rare along most of the coast, are more common at the productive waters near the lighthouse.

On a typical trip, customers will use light tackle to quickly catch limits of quality rockfish before switching to heavier gear and larger baits to specifically target lingcod. The Brookings Fishing Charters crew has the highest success rate in the charter fleet for catching lingcod near the lighthouse, with limits common.

Trips depart from the Port of Brookings, with most of the fishing closer to the lighthouse itself.

A triple hookup of lingcod from the Dragon Channel, near the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse, aboard the Nauti-Lady.

The lighthouse is approximately 11 miles from Brookings, almost straight out from the harbor. The reef and best fishing is a little further, in what is known locally as the “Dragon Channel” a lingcod and trophy rockfish infested area of the reef. Swift currents, sudden depth changes, and an extremely rugged undersea terrain provide ideal habitat for big rockfish and lingcod. Oldtimers tell stories of lingcod between 50 and 70 pounds, and each season plenty of trophy lings are caught. 

Giant vermilion rockfish, jumbo canary rockfish and trophy copper rockfish are caught on nearly every trip. Our customers also encounter rare tiger rockfish at the lighthouse, and often catch (and release) giant yelloweye rockfish, which are protected and cannot be kept.

Limits of nice lingcod from the lighthouse area aboard the Miss Brooke.

To learn more about the lighthouse, or book a trip, visit www.brookingsfishing.com, or call (541) 813-1082.

Brookings lingcod action phenomenal

Lingcod action is usually the best of the season in early spring, as the big fish come into shallow water to spawn, and this year has been nothing short of phenomenal.

Over the weekend, Brookings Fishing Charters sent four boats out, and each returned on Sunday with full limits of rockfish and lingcod. The lingcod action was so good, the six-pack boats actually released more lingcod than they kept after limiting out. They had limits of lings well before they had limits of rockfish. The Nauti-Lady, on its half-day bottom fishing trip, also limited every customer on lingcod and rockfish.

A limit of lingcod aboard the Nauti-Lady on March 31, 2021.

As a general rule, the better the weather, the better the fishing this time of year. That has been true, as we’ve been getting full limits on calm days, and limits of rockfish and some lingcod when it is rough and windy. Charters are now running daily, weather permitting.

Limits of lingcod in late March at Mack Arch.

Most of the lingcod are being caught in shallow water, from 30 to 60 feet. The lings are biting flutter jigs, shrimp flies, Farallon Feathers, small grubs and twin-tail scampies. The grade of rockfish has been good, with a nice mix of black, blue, canary, China, vermilion, copper and quill back rockfish.

We are running the 6-plus hour targeted lingcod trips on the six-pack boats, and usually fishing around House Rock or Mack Arch. The Nauti-Lady, our larger party boat, is focusing on the 4-5 hour half day bottom fishing trips, and has had good success limits on rockfish and lings when the weather cooperates.

A boat limit of lings and rockfish for the Nauti-Lady.
Nice lingcod caught aboard the Miss Brooke at Mack Arch.
Limits of rockfish and lingcod for the Papa B.
More Mack Arch lingcod.
Good lingcod action on the Miss Brooke.
Catching a limit of lingcod at Mack Arch is a trip to remember.
Really nice vermilion from the Nauti-Lady.
A nice limit of lingcod from the Nauti-Lady.
Our six-pack charter boats are the fastest charters in the fleet, and will get you to and from the fishing grounds quickly and safely.
Limits of lingcod aboard the Miss Brooke.
Capt. Michael gaffs a lingcod aboard the Nauti-Lady in front of Bird Island.
This young angler not only caught her first lingcod aboard the Nauti-Lady, she caught her limit!
Nice lingcod to start the day on the Nauti-Lady.
Quality lingcod and rockfish aboard the Nauti-Lady.
Nice keeper lingcod from the Nauti-Lady.
Our half-day bottom fishing trips are ideal for young anglers. Lots of action, beautiful scenery, and good eats afterward.

We will be focusing on lingcod and rockfish in April. In May, there are lots of new fishing opportunities. We will begin the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse trips in May, when California waters open, and also begin Pacific halibut trips in May. The halibut season out of Brookings runs May. 1-Oct. 31. Brookings Fishing Charters had the best overall catch rate of any charter out of Brookings last year, as its captains have decades of halibut fishing experience in Oregon and Alaska. The best halibut fishing takes place in July and August, but we had success as soon as the season opened last year.

Ocean salmon season dates will be announced in mid-April. The season could open as early as the end of May, or by mid-June. Late June and July are peak season. Our captains are salmon fishing experts and have a high success rate of getting customers into nice kings. This year we also we be able to target coho, or silver salmon, increasing the likelihood of limits.

To book an ocean charter out of Brookings, visit www.brookingsfishing.com or call our booking office, (541) 813-1082.