Tag: Brookings Charter boats

Lingcod, rockfish biting off of Brookings

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.

For daily fishing report updates, please visit our Facebook page, with is updated regularly by Capt. Andy. https://www.facebook.com/brookingsfishingcharters

To book a fishing charter, please visit our online calendar at www.brookingsfishing.com or call (541) 813-1082.

See are blog for fish and chip recipes.

By popular demand, we have posted our favorite fish and chip recipes. Here is the beer battered fish and chips. http://brookingsfishing.blogspot.com/2016/03/easydelicious-beer-battered-fish-and.html

Here is the fish taco recipe. http://brookingsfishing.blogspot.com/2019/05/www.brookingsfishing.com.html

Ocean fishing good between storms

While stormy weather has kept charter boats at the docks much of January and February, on days when the ocean has been flat, in between storms, fishing has been good for lingcod and rockfish. The sport crab season also is now open off of Brookings.

Capt. Andy and Capt. Travis have both run charter trips this winter for Brookings Fishing Charters. With lots of freshwater flowing out of the Chetco River, the best fishing has been to the north, especially from Bird Island up. The Miss Brooke had some good success in the House Rock area, and also up at Mack Arch. Customers have been catching a good grade of rockfish, with a mix of blacks and canaries, and some nice lingcod.

Ocean conditions often continue to improve in late February and early March. We will be offering trips as weather conditions allow in the winter, and by late March will have all four boats in the water offering lingcod, crabbing and rockfish trips daily.

Ocean salmon season likely will open in May. Halibut season opens May 1.

To book a trip, visit www.brookingsfishing.com or call (541) 813-1082.