Brookings Charter boats Archives - Page 2 of 10

Spectacular lingcod action, spring salmon await anglers on Oregon Coast

BROOKINGS, Ore. (April 7, 2025) – A wide-open lingcod bite, with full limits over the weekend on our charter boats, has anglers anxiously awaiting the next nice-weather days on the Oregon Coast. The lingcod fishing is as good as it has been all year, with every customer on the Nauti-Lady, Miss Brooke and Papa B returning to port with their limit of lingcod on Saturday. The quality of the fish has been excellent, and the light-tackle, shallow-water action has been nothing short of epic.

**Capt. Sam gaffs a lingcod aboard the Nauti-Lady in early April.**

Lingcod remain in shallow water this time of year after the winter spawn. They are aggressive and hungry, attacking lures dropped onto the rocky crevices where they hide, waiting to ambush prey. Most of the fish are being caught in 20 to 40 feet of water, close to shore over rocky reefs. The lingcod are averaging 8 to 10 pounds, with fish up to 20 pounds being caught.

**Deckhand Eric holds a nice lingcod caught in April 2025 aboard the Miss Brooke.**

**Another nice lingcod caught aboard the Nauti-Lady in April 2025.**

Lingcod fishing remains good in April and May, before some of the fish migrate back to deeper water. Until then, fast and furious action is common over the shallow reefs near Brookings. Our charter boats have been doing well from Twin Rocks and House Rock to Mack Arch, Arch Rock and Mack Reef.

In May, fishing for trophy lingcod will get even better, as the Point St. George Reef next to the historic Point St. George Lighthouse opens to fishing. It provides some of the best lingcod and rockfish action outside of Alaska. Halibut season also opens May 1 out of Brookings.

**Capt. Sam with a lingcod caught aboard the Nauti-Lady.**

Spring salmon also are being caught on the Rogue River near Gold Beach, Oregon. Capt. Rye has been focusing on Rogue springers, and finding some beautiful ocean-bright fish. Springer season runs April through June, and April and early May are prime time.

**Capt. Rye holds a chrome-bright Rogue River spring king salmon caught in early April 2025.**

Springers are caught from boats anchored in the slower water, using the current to spin anchovies. The bite is the hardest pull down a salmon angler will ever see. The springers hit, and then turn into the current, charging full speed downstream. It’s similar to the massive strikes made famous on Wicked Tuna. To book a Rogue River spring salmon trip, call our office at (541) 813-1082.

**Another nice springer caught in early April with Capt. Rye on the Rogue River, fishing from the comfort of a covered jet boat.**

Ocean lingcod and rockfish trips will run daily through the spring and summer as the weather allows. Trips are available on the Nauti-Lady, Miss Brooke, Kraken, Papa B and Dash. To book an ocean charter boat out of Brookings, call (541) 813-1082 or visit www.brookingsfishing.com.

**Capt. Andy helps a customer hold a 19-pound lingcod caught aboard the Nauti-Lady.**

Here are some of the great catches from the past week with the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet.

Lingcod, rockfish biting as Spring arrives

BROOKINGS, Ore. (March 31, 2025) – The Oregon Coast has experienced a stormy, very wet and rainy winter and early spring, limiting the number of days boats can get offshore for lingcod and rockfish. But on calmer weather days between storms, fishing has been good, with limits of rockfish and lots of nice lingcod. Now that Spring has officially arrived, better weather is in the forecast. The second half of this coming week has the best weather forecast so far this year, with light winds, small swells, sunny weather – the making of what should be great fishing off the coast of Brookings.

**A pair of nice lingcod from the Nauti-Lady in mid-March.**

Our charter boats have seized the weather openings between storms to run trips, returning to port with nice limits of rockfish and plenty of lingcod. On calmer weather days, the lingcod fishing has been excellent. During big swells, rockfish are still eagerly biting, but lingcod have been tougher to come by.

**Another limit of lingcod from the Nauti-Lady in March 2025.**

Fishing on rocky reefs in shallow water, using light tackle, the rockfish action is often wide open this time of year. We are finding a mix of large black rockfish, blue and deacon rockfish, canaries, vermillion, China and an occasional copper rockfish. Lots of smaller rockfish are mixed in, but with the lighter tackle and shallower water, they are easy to release unharmed. April and May usually signals the start of the surface bite, where rockfish are caught just under the surface as they feed on freshly spawned baitfish and crab spawn.

**Deckhand Eric holds a lingcod caught aboard the Nauti-Lady.**

Lingcod also are still in shallow water after the winter spawn. Most of the lingcod caught on recent trips have been in 20 to 40 feet of water. Our boats have done best at House Rock and Mack Arch for lingcod, the typical destination of our six-hour long-range charters.

Pacific halibut season opens May 1, along with our trophy lingcod and rockfish season at the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse. This season, the Nauti-Lady, Miss Brooke and Kraken will be running trips to the lighthouse. While halibut is open May 1, the best fishing is from late June through September.

We will learn our 2025 ocean salmon dates for the Oregon Coast next week, after the Pacific Fishery Management Council sets ocean seasons for Oregon, California and Washington. Early indications show a mid-May through early June king salmon season, and early June through August hatchery coho season. The best coho action off of Brookings is mid to late June, when action is often wide open.

**Spring king salmon caught on the lower Rogue River with Capt. Rye. April and May are prime time for Rogue springers.**

Winter steelhead season closed March 31 on the Chetco and remains open through April on the Smith River. Our river guides are switching gears to the Rogue River for spring king salmon. Capt. Rye, Mick and Sam will be running trips from their jet boats for these hard-fighting, great-eating springer salmon. Call (541) 813-1082 to book a spring king salmon trip.

Ocean charters will run daily now through the early fall, weather permitting. Book online at www.brookingsfishing.com, or call our booking office at (541) 813-1082.

Here are some more recent catches from our ocean charters in March.

Crab Mac and Cheese delicious way to enjoy Oregon Coast Dungeness

By Capt. Andy Martin – Fresh Dungeness crab is one of the most delicious treats of the Oregon Coast, great eaten as quickly as you can crack it, served with a green salad, prepared in Cioppino or made into tacos. One of our favorite ways to enjoy crab, however, is baked with homemade macaroni and cheese. Crab Mac and Cheese is rich and creamy, comfort food at its best. Served as a side with fish and chips, or part of a more elegant meal, we enjoy Crab Mac and Cheese frequently at our home, especially when family or grandkids are visiting.

**Crab Mac and Cheese is a delicious way to enjoy fresh Dungeness from the Oregon Coast.**

My wife, Sarah, uses a variety of cheeses when preparing Crab Mac and Cheese – sharp cheddar, jack, parmesan, mozzarella, Velveeta, and cream cheese. The variety ads to the flavor. Traditional homemade mac and cheese often excludes the Velveeta and cream cheese, using butter instead, but our family prefers the broad range of cheeses. We also often add bacon or diced ham, making the Crab Mac and Cheese a meal in itself.

Crab Mac and Cheese is versatile and can include different seasonings, such as creole seasoning or Old Bay, or sauteed vegetables, such as bell peppers, zucchini, onion or mushrooms.

**Capt. Chris Cooke pulls a pot of Dungeness crab onto the Nauti-Lady.**

Start by boiling the crab, and removing meat from the shells and setting aside. Lump crab from the grocery store will work, but freshly caught crab is so much better. In fact, we’ve found preparing a few large batches of Crab Mac and Cheese, dividing into several containers, and then freezing is a good way to preserve crab to enjoy later. We often pull a serving out of the freezer when family visits to serve with fresh fish and chips.

**A variety of cheeses, such as cheddar, jack and mozzarella, plus Velveeta and cream cheese, will make Crab Mac and Cheese extra creamy and rich.**

**Combine the cheeses and macaroni in a large pot. Heat over medium heat until well combined.**

**Fresh crab turns homemade macaroni and cheese into gourmet version of a family favorite**.

**Sprinkle with breadcrumbs before baking.**

**Crab Mac and Cheese, one of the best ways to enjoy fresh Oregon Coast Dungeness.**

Homemade Crab Mac and Cheese is simple and easy. Our recipe doesn’t have to be followed precisely. Use whatever variety of cheeses you prefer, and the amount you like. Two cups of cheese is a good starting point for a 16-ounce package of macaroni. If you don’t want to use cream cheese or Velveeta, add a little more milk, and a half cube of melted butter. Season to taste.

Crab Mac and Cheese

16 ounces macaroni or other pasta, cooked to directions, drained, set aside

1 cup cooked, shelled crab meat (or more if desired)

2 cups shredded cheese (mixture of cheddar, mozzarella, jack, pepperjack, parmesan)

1/2 cup Velveeta cheese

4 ounces cream cheese (1/2 stick)

2 cups milk

1/2 cup sour cream

2 tbs green onion, sliced

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/2 cup breadcrumbs

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat baking dish with cooking spray.

Boil pasta as directed, drain, set aside

In a large pot, combine cheeses, milk, sour cream, Velveeta, cream cheese, seasonings, green onion and crab. Heat over medium heat until well combined, stirring constantly. Add cooked pasta, stir well.

Transfer the pasta, cheese and crab mixture to the baking dish, sprinkle with bread crumbs, bake for 15 minutes.

**A customer on the Nauti-Lady with a pot full of crab.**

**Crab caught aboard a charter boat with Brookings Fishing Charters.**

To book a fishing and crab combo, visit www.brookingsfishing.com.

Surfperch easy to catch, abundant at beaches around Brookings

By Capt. Andy Martin – Growing up in Brookings, catching surfperch are among my earliest childhood memories. Abundant at area beaches, easy to catch, hard fighting, and good to eat, surfperch are an under-rated bounty of the Oregon Coast. These spectacular-looking fish are eager biters, and fun for anglers of all ages and skill levels. Even after a day on the water running a charter boat, I often walk to the beach near my home after work and catch surfperch during the spring and summer with my wife or grandkids. Catching surfperch never gets old – and its one of the best ways to enjoy a visit to the Oregon Coast.

**A young anglers holds a double hookup of redtail surfperch caught at a beach near Brookings.**

Since they are relatively easy to catch, and the gear needed is inexpensive, even the occasional angler has a blast catching surfperch. The Brookings, Oregon, area has some of the best surfperch beaches on the coast, and the safest, with small breakers, easy-to-access beaches, and generally less wind than the rest of the Pacific Northwest.

Most anglers use what is known as a high-low rig for surfperch. A weight is attached at the bottom of a leader, with two hooks attached with dropper loops above the weight. The rig doubles the chances of hooking up, with two hooks, and with the weight on the bottom, it is easier to feel the bite.

**Capt. Andy with a striped surfperch caught near the Chetco River jetty.**

**Sarah Martin with a walleye surfperch caught near Brookings.**

A few keys to surfperch – the fish have small mouths, so small hooks and small baits must be used. I often see anglers attempt to catch surfperch and get frustrated as others around them are catching fish after fish. The biggest mistake is using too big of a hook or bait. Generally, use a bait the size of a fingernail and no bigger than a thumbnail. A size 6 to 4 baitholder hook works best. Try using a size 1/0 or bigger hook and you may get a bite, but likely won’t hook the surfperch.

Pancake sinkers work best. Bank sinkers or pyramid sinkers will also work. Round cannon ball style sinkers will roll around, and make it easier for waves to wash them back to shore. During conditions with small swells or light currents, weights as light as 2 ounces will work. Upwards of 6 ounces are needed when breakers and swells are bigger. In snaggy, rocky areas, many anglers will use larger slinkies, or pencil lead with surgical tubing.

**A high-low rig works best for surfperch from beaches around Brookings.**

For bait, remember smaller is better. Many anglers use larger raw shrimp or prawns, but cut them into small pieces, again about the size of a fingernail, or dime. These baits stay on the hook well, and are a favorite bait of both redtail and striped surfperch. Berkley Gulp! sandworms also work well for surfperch, especially the 2″ camo colored baits. Raw clams and mussels are another extremely effective surfperch bait. If conditions are calm, with light swells, cooked salad shrimp will work, but in rougher water, that bait will easily be washed off the hooks.

A medium-sized spinning combo works best for surfperch. Around Brookings, a 7 1/2-foot rod is ideal. In areas with larger breakers and waves, a longer rod may be necessary. The same rod and reel used for bass fishing at the lake, or steelhead, will work for surfperch. Lighter lines, no more than 20 pound test, works best, as heavier diameters will get washed toward the beach faster by incoming waves.

Surfperch can be caught year round near Brookings, but the best fishing is in the late winter, spring and summer. Striped surfperch move close to the beach in the late winter and spring to spawn. Unlike most fish, they give live birth near the surf. Striped surfperch like gravel, sandy and rocky beaches, and tidepools that are covered at high tide. March through May are prime time. The Winchuck Beach, McVay Rock State Park, Sporthaven (Port of Brookings) Beach, both jetties of the Chetco River, Chetco Point Park and Lone Ranch State Park are hot spots for

Redtail surfperch will spawn later. They are caught from March through September. Crissy Field Welcome Center, right on the Oregon-California border, is a hot spot for redtails, along with Harris Beach, Lone Ranch, Kissing Rock in Gold Beach and the sandspit at the mouth of the Rogue River.

Surfperch like to feed right next to shore on the breaker line. Often anglers cast too far and overshoot fish holding within a few feet of the beach. Capt. Michael details how to catch surfperch in this video.

Surfperch season is open year round in Oregon. The limit is 15 per day, with no size limit.

**Capt. Michael with a surfperch caught near Brookings.**

**A nice catch of surfperch from a beach near Brookings.**

To learn more about surfperch fishing, stop by Brookings Bait and Tackle at the Port of Brookings. To learn more about ocean fishing charters, visit www.brookingsfishing.com.

Winter charter trips bring back lingcod, rockfish and crab, while steelhead arrive in local rivers

BROOKINGS, Ore. (Feb. 22, 2025) – Limits of rockfish, lots of lingcod and a few Dungeness crab to end the day have made for exciting winter charter boat trips out of Brookings so far this winter, with good fishing on the nice weather days between storms. Chrome-bright steelhead, meanwhile, are entering local rivers, giving anglers plenty of options for February and March fishing trips.

Ocean lingcod and rockfish action has been above average so far this winter, with more lingcod than recent years in January and February. Steelhead fishing, on the other hand, has been slower than expected coastwide, with just a couple steelhead per boat on most days.

**Customers with limits of lingcod aboard the Miss Brooke in February 2025.**

The Miss Brooke, Nauti-Lady and Papa B have been running ocean charters as the weather allows between storms. The rockfish action has been hot, with lots of smaller fish released and a good grade for limits. Lingcod also are biting aggressively, with limits typical on the longer 6-plus-hour trips, and a fish or rod or better on the shorter 4-hour trips. On long-range trips to Mack Arch, the lingcod bite has been wide open, with limits and plenty of smaller lingcod released, as well as some larger breeders let go as well.

**A large steelhead caught with Capt. Andy on the Chetco River in February 2025.**

Steelhead fishing will remain a solid option well into March. Our ocean charter boat captains are also river guides, and fish out of drift boats during the fall and winter when the ocean is too rough to fish. They use light spinning tackle to drift tiny clusters of roe for steelhead. The scenic floats down the Chetco and Smith rivers are memorable, and the hard-fighting steelhead are among the most prized an angler can catch.

**A limit of lingcod from the Miss Brooke in January 2025.**

During the winter months, lingcod move into shallow water to spawn. Big numbers of fish congregate over rockpiles in 20 to 50 feet of water. Many of the lingcod are caught on typical rockfish gear, but once limits of rockfish are caught, our captains switch over to larger jigs and bigger baits to specifically target lingcod. The catch rate of the Brookings Fishing Charters crew speaks for itself – our captains have a well-earned reputation for catching quality rockfish and lots of lingcod using light tackle in shallow water.

**Capt. Andy with a pair of nice lingcod caught aboard the Nauti-Lady in February 2025.**

**Deckhand Eric with a pair of lingcod caught aboard the Miss Brooke in January 2025.**

Ocean fishing is open year round out of the Port of Brookings, which also has the safest bar crossing on the Oregon Coast. Our crew is ready to fish each time there is a break in the weather and it is safe to get out and fish for lingcod and rockfish. Trips are available aboard the Nauti-Lady, our 42-foot boat, as well as the 30-foot six-pack charter boats Miss Brooke, Kraken, Papa B and Dash.

**The Nauti-Lady hovers of a big school of rockfish near House Rock in January 2025.**

Ocean salmon dates will be announced in April 2025. Pacific halibut season opens May 1. The highly anticipated season at Point St. George Reef Lighthouse also opens May 1. Albacore tuna trips are offered in July, August and September, once the fish get within 30 miles of the coastline.

Here are some of the recent lingcod and rockfish catches aboard our charter boats out of Brookings.

Steelhead season closes March 31 on the Chetco, and April 30 on the Smith. Spring king salmon action runs mid-March through June. To book an ocean charter or spring king salmon trip, call (541) 813-1082. Learn more about ocean charters at www.brookingsfishing.com. Learn about river trips at www.wildriversfishing.com.

Here are some recent steelhead catches with our river guides.

Winter charters yielding great catches of lingcod, rockfish and crab

BROOKINGS, Ore. (Jan. 16, 2025) – While the ocean has been choppy and windy, with plenty of big swells, there have been a few windows of nice weather in January, allowing our charter boats to get offshore to target lingcod and rockfish, and check crab pots on the way in. Limits of quality rockfish are being caught, with nice lingcod mixed in, and an exclamation point to the day with fresh crab.

The Nauti-Lady and Miss Brooke have been running ocean charters this month, between storm events, while the rest of the Brookings Fishing Charters crew is focusing on winter steelhead drift boat trips on the Chetco and Smith rivers. As the rivers begin to drop to low, clear conditions as the storm door temporarily closes, the ridge of high pressure in the weather patterns often makes for fishable ocean conditions. We are planning more ocean charters the second half of January.

**A pair of nice lingcod from a trip this month on the Nauti-Lady.**

**Jumbo crab on the Nauti-Lady. We have been setting pots on the way out, and checking them before returning to the docks.**

When the weather allows during the winter months, lingcod fishing is often good, as fish move into shallower water to stage to spawn. Large numbers of lingcod, which spend most of their life in deeper water offshore, come to the shallow reefs December through April. We use light tackle to fish for lingcod when they are in shallow water, often catching them at depths less than 40 feet.

**Lingcod from a recent trip aboard the Nauti-Lady.**

**A lingcod that fell for a light jig aboard the Miss Brooke in 30 feet of water.**

Big schools of rockfish are in shallow water, producing quick limits. We use light spinning rods to catch the rockfish. Caught in shallow water, smaller fish can safely be released without harm, and anglers can sort through quality limits.’

**Nice grade of rockfish during a hot bite aboard the Miss Brooke.**

Steelhead fishing has been fair on the local rivers. After weeks of high water, the rivers are dropping to low, clear conditions. Expect big numbers of hatchery fish after the next rain. Here are a few steelhead catches with our guides this past week.

To book an ocean charter, call (541) 813-1082. More information about our trips is available at www.brookingsfishing.com.

Here are some more catches from the past week on our charter boats.

Also check out our web site for dozens of delicious seafood recipes. Click here for our latest recipes.

Lingcod, rockfish biting between winter storms

BROOKINGS, Ore. (Jan. 2, 2025) – A brief weather window on New Year’s Eve, with a lull in the winter storms, allowed the Nauti-Lady to venture offshore for rockfish and lingcod, with steady action, a wide assortment of fish, and family fun to end 2024.

**Happy New Year from the Brookings Fishing Charters crew.**

Stormy weather kept the charter fleet at the docks most of December, but lighter winds and smaller swells provided an opportunity to get out on Dec. 31. Families from Eastern Washington, Sacramento and Canby, Ore., caught limits of rockfish, with some lingcod and cabezon mixed in. By the time the Nauti-Lady was back at the docks, windy, rainy, stormy weather had returned. Another break in the weather is expected this coming week, which should allow the Brookings Fishing Charters crew to get back on the ocean, while also starting the peak season of winter steelhead drift boat fishing on the Chetco and Smith rivers. The Brookings Fishing Charters team of saltwater charter boat captains are also river guides during the fall and winter months, when the ocean is too rough to fish.

**Rockfish season is open year round in Oregon, and a nice variety of fish are available during the winter months. A couple of young anglers are all smiles after landing rockfish and cabezon.**

**Lingcod move into shallow water to spawn during the winter, making them easier to catch on light tackle.**

**Customers enjoy a beak in the weather New Year’s Day aboard the Nauti-Lady offshore of Brookings, Oregon.**

Some of the best lingcod fishing of the year takes place during the winter months, as fish move into shallow water to spawn. Catch rates are often the highest of the year from January through April, during the peak of the spawning period. Rockfish season is open year round, and limits are common during the winter months.

The Brookings Fishing Charters crew uses light tackle to target rockfish and lingcod. Quality spinning combos make for exciting action once fish are hooked up. On a typical trip, anglers will start out with rockfish gear, and as limits are caught, switch over to bigger jigs to target lingcod.

**A young angler takes the bat to her first-ever lingcod.**

**Fish on! a lingcod is brought to the surface with a light spinning rod.**

**Another lingcod caught New Year’s Eve aboard the Nauti-Lady.**

**Capt. Sam helps a young angler hold his first-ever lingcod.**

To learn more about our year-round ocean charters, visit www.brookingsfishing.com. Learn more about guided river trips on the Chetco and Smith rivers at www.wildriversfishing.com.

Lingcod and rockfish season is open year round. Ocean salmon season generally runs late May through August. Final season dates are approved by federal fishery managers in April. The Point St. George Reef Lighthouse, home of our trophy lingcod and rockfish fishery, is set to open in May. Halibut season runs May 1-Oct. 31.

To book a trip, call (541) 813-1082.

If you haven’t checked out our recipe page, we post new recipes throughout the season. Our latest is Coconut-Crusted Lingcod with Sweet Chili Sauce. Check it out here.

**Coconut-Crusted Lingcod and Shrimp with Sweet Chili Sauce.**

For more great recipes, visit our recipe section.

Fall lingcod bite hot, first steelhead arrive, crab opener good!

BROOKINGS, Ore. (Dec. 8, 2024) – It has been a very busy and productive late fall on the Southern Oregon Coast, with hot action for lingcod and rockfish, bonus crab with last week’s ocean sport opener, the first winter steelhead of the season on the local rivers, and some big, bright late fall king salmon still around. The Point St. George Reef Lighthouse season also ended with a bang, with limits of lingcod and jumbo rockfish.

Brookings Fishing Charters is continuing ocean fishing charters for lingcod, rockfish and crab in December as the weather allows. The charter boat captains also are running drift boat trips on the local rivers for salmon and steelhead when ocean conditions are too rough for offshore charters.

**Limits of lingcod and a bunch of crab from the Dec. 6 charter aboard the Miss Brooke.**

**A nice limit of lingcod at Mack Arch in late November aboard the Nauti-Lady.**

Dungeness crab season opened Dec. 5 off the coast of Brookings, and the Brookings Fishing Charters quickly set crab pots as a bonus for the lingcod and rockfish charter customers. Aside with limits of rockfish and lots of lingcod, customers also are leaving with bags full of cooked crab. Crab combos will continue as the weather allows, although catch rates could drop with the Dec. 16 commercial crab opener, as thousands of crab pots will carpet the ocean out of Brookings.

**Deckhand Eric with a pot full of crab from a recent charter on the Kraken.**

At Mack Arch, fishing has been wide-open for lingcod on our long-range 6-hour charters. Lingcod to 20 pounds are being caught, along with limits of nice rockfish. Most of the lings are being caught on light spinning tackle in shallow water.

Closer to the harbor, the local 4-hour half-day charter is producing limits of rockfish, with a few lingcod mixed in. During the winter, lingcod move closer to the shoreline to spawn, and fishing can also be very good close to port for lingcod and rockfish.

**Capt. Andy with the first adult winter steelhead of the season on his drift boat last week on the Chetco River. Late December, January and February are peak season for steelhead fishing.**

On the Chetco and Smith rivers, Capt. Andy, Rye, Sam, Mick, Chris and Eric have been running salmon trips from their drift boats. Aside from some late-season king salmon, they also are finding the first winter steelhead of the season. Salmon season will wind down in December, although some fresh fish will still be around on the Elk and Sixes, while steelhead season will improve. January and February are peak season for steelhead on the local rivers. The Brookings Fishing Charters and Wild Rivers Fishing team is the most experienced group of local guides on these world-class rivers. Learn more about winter steelhead fishing at www.wildriversfishing.com.

Heavy rain expected this coming weekend will give salmon action a boost on the Elk and Sixes rivers while they begin to drop early next week, while more schools of fresh steelhead are expected on the Chetco and Smith rivers.

**Capt. Rye with a 42-pound king salmon from early December on the Chetco River.**

The Point St. George Reef lighthouse area closed to fishing Nov. 30. The last few trips of the season to the lighthouse aboard the Miss Brooke and Kraken produced quick limits of lingcod and rockfish, with a nice mix of colorful canary and vermillion rockfish, and lingcod to 20 pounds. The lighthouse area is expected to re-open in May.

**Nice limits of lingcod from a late-season trip to Point St. George Reef aboard the Miss Brooke.**

During the winter months, lingcod become the prime target of charters aboard the Brookings Fishing Charters boats. Using light tackle, the crew will first take customers to reefs full of rockfish and try to catch quick limits, leaving plenty of time to use large jigs or bigger baits intended to catch lingcod. The best catch rates of the year for lingcod usually happens from December through April as the lingcod are in shallow water.

**Capt. Andy with a nice lingcod caught in early December aboard the Miss Brooke.**

**Limits of lingcod caught aboard the Miss Brooke with Capt. Chris and Sammy.**

**A nice vermillion rockfish caught aboard the Nauti-Lady in late November.**

This coming week, the Brookings Fishing Charters crew will be offering crabbing only charters before the commercial season opens. Cost is $100 a person and includes cleaning and cooking of the crab. Call our office at (541) 813-1082 to book a crabbing trip.

Crabbing also can be added to bottom fishing charters. Contact out office for details.

**Eric and Capt. Sam with a few of the many crab caught during the ocean sport opener last week.**

**The Miss Brooke fishing near House Rock in early December 2024.**

To book a river or ocean fishing trip, call (541) 813-1082. For more information on ocean charters, visit www.brookingsfishing.com. For river trips, visit www.wildriversfishing.com.

Here are some recent catches with our river guides on the Chetco and Smith rivers.

Here are some recent catches aboard our ocean charters.

Drift boat salmon season produces big kings

BROOKINGS, Ore. (Nov. 22, 2024) – With rough ocean conditions the past month, the Brookings Fishing Charters crew has been focusing on the local rivers, where fall-run king salmon are migrating into freshwater to spawn. The Chetco and Smith rivers boast some of the best drift boat salmon opportunities on the West Coast, and this year has lived up to their reputation. The Brookings Fishing Charters crew of captains and deckhands are also full-time drift boat guides in the fall and winter, and among the most experienced river guides in the region.

**Capt. Andy with a hefty hatchery king salmon caught last week on the Elk River in Southern Oregon.**

Salmon season in the rivers and estuaries began in September, when big kings began staging along the Chetco River jetties in Brookings. Fishing was good through October, with salmon as big as 52 pounds caught by boaters trolling flashers and anchovies. The Brookings Fishing Charters crew switched back and forth between the estuary salmon fishing and ocean charters until late October, when heavy rains increased flows on the Chetco and Smith rivers and kicked off the drift boat season upriver.

**Capt. Mick with a bright Chetco River king caught on a MagLip plug.**

Upriver, anglers fishing from drift boats used plugs – primarily Yakima Bait Co. MagLip and FlatFish plugs – or roe and sand shrimp, to catch big king salmon moving into the rivers to spawn. Fishing was good through November, until a series of big storms, with hurricane-force winds and heavy rain, brought the rivers to minor flood stage.

**Capt. Sam with a big Smith River king, which was released after a quick photograph.**

**Capt. Rye with a large hatchery king salmon from the Chetco River estuary.**

This fall we welcomed two new drift boat guides to our crew, although they have been members of our team for several years. Eric and Chris, who have been deckhands on our ocean charter boats, successfully ran their first drift boat trips with customers this fall. Chris completed his Coast Guard captain’s class this spring, is now licensed to run our ocean boats and river boats. He has been having a good fall Chinook season on the Chetco. Eric, who started work with us when he was 16 and a sophomore in high school, graduated in June and is now running drift boat trips and deckhanding on the Nauti-Lady while he completes his Coast Guard license classes.

**Capt. Chris holds a nice Chetco River king salmon.**

**Eric holds a nice Chetco estuary king caught while deckhanding for Capt. Rye.**

We will continue to fun drift boat trips for salmon into December. The Elk and Sixes rivers have a later run of fall kings, while fresh fish also will trickle into the Chetco and Smith rivers. Winter steelhead season begins Dec. 1 and runs through March. Late December, January and February are the peak season for winter steelhead. Our guides will run salmon and steelhead combo trips through mid-December, then switch gears just to side-drifting for steelhead.

To learn more about our drift boat trips, visit www.wildriversfishing.com.

Ocean charters will resume next week with good weather on the forecast. When the weather cooperates, our crew splits time between the ocean and rivers.

Here are some of the recent drift boat salmon catches with our crew.

Tuna arrive, salmon still around, lingcod action hot!

BROOKINGS, Ore. (Aug. 3, 2024) – Some of the best fishing action of the year is happening now on the Oregon Coast, with a wide variety of opportunities. The first tuna of the season caught by any of the local charters hit the docks this week, while king and coho salmon are still biting, halibut fishing is improving, and the lingcod action has been wide-open on our long-range trips to Point St. George Reef and Mack Arch. August is one of the best times of the year to fish out of Brookings, with lots of options for visiting anglers.

**The first albacore tuna of the season caught on a charter boat out of Brookings in 2024, landed aboard the Dash with Capt. Mick. The day ended with five dozen albacore landed.**

The Dash, with Capt. Mick, ran the first albacore tuna charter of the season out of Brookings on Aug. 2, and returned with its totes and fish bags stuffed full of tasty albacore. The first charter yielded five dozen albacore, caught on both rod and reel and hand lines. The fish were 35 miles straight out from the harbor, with 60-degree water as close as 30 miles. Tuna trips are booked off of a call list. Call (541) 813-1082 to include your name, and our booking office will call as trips are put together, based on calm weather forecasts and current fishing reports.

**Limits of hatchery coho salmon caught in July aboard the Miss Brooke.**

Salmon season remains a solid bet out of Brookings, although the action has been hit-and-miss. Many of the hatchery coho have already migrated north, but we are still seeing keeper fish each day, and there have been good days for larger kings mixed in. This past week, our trips produced big numbers of wild coho and kings that were less than 24 inches, both of which must be released. Lots of action, but not as many keepers as were saw earlier in the season. Salmon season still has three weeks remaining, and fish will be available through the month.

**The results of a double-hookup of halibut aboard the Papa B this week.**

**A big halibut caught on the Papa B in July.**

Pacific halibut fishing has been decent, with a few very good days mixed in. August and early September are peak season, so expect good catches all month. We are fishing for halibut in 180 to 250 feet of water. The fish have been 15 to 50 pounds. For the past several years, catch rates have increased substantially in August.

**Check out this trophy lingcod caught this week aboard the Kraken!**

Our long-range charters to the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse and Mack Arch have resulted in some of the best lingcod action we’ve seen in recent memory during the summer months. Limits are common, with fish up to 30 pounds. The grade of rockfish has been phenomenal. Plenty of smaller lingcod released as well, a good sign for next year’s seasons.

**Capt. Sam and Capt. Chris with some of the lingcod caught this week on the Kraken.**

During our local half-day charters, fishing has been good for rockfish, with limits daily, and better-than-average lingcod fishing. Most trips are resulting in a lingcod per rod on our 4- and 6-hour charters.

**A pair of albacore tuna from the first Brookings Fishing Charters tuna trip of the season.**

We begin river salmon trips in September at the mouth of the Chetco, and will be fishing upriver in drift boats on the Chetco and Smith rivers beginning in October. To learn more about river trips, visit www.wildriversfishing.com.