Tag: Brookings fishing report

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.

Capt. Chris holds a nice king salmon caught in 2026 aboard the Miss Brooke.

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.

Nice king salmon caught aboard the Miss Brooke with Capt. Chris.

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.

ODFW catch rates show the best king salmon fishing is taking place out of the Port of Brookings.
Capt. Andy holds a pair of nice kings caught aboard the Miss Brooke.
Capt. Brent holds a king salmon caught aboard the Little Cleo.

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.

Lingcod action hot between winter storms

BROOKINGS, Ore. (Feb. 17, 2026) – Winter storms, with strong southerly winds and big swells, have kept boats at the docks for much of the new year, but between storms, when the ocean settles down, lingcod and rockfish action have been hot out of the Port of Brookings-Harbor.

On calm weather days, when swells are minimal, the lingcod action has been fast and furious. During days when the ocean is fishable but still fairly rough, rockfish action has been good, with lingcod fishing hit-and-miss.

An angler holds a hefty lingcod caught on the Miss Brooke in February 2026 between winter storms.

The lingcod limit for 2026 has increased to three fish a person per day. Limits have been caught when the ocean is calm and charter boats can get to House Rock or Mack Arch. Rockfish limits have been quick and easy so far this year, with a nice grade of black and blue rockfish, with some canary and vermillion rockfish mixed in.

Our charter boats have been using light spinning tackle to quickly limit out on rockfish, then switching over to heavier jigs and baits for lingcod. The lings are in shallow water this time of year, staging to spawn. Most of the fish are being caught in 30 to 60 feet of water.

An angler holds his three-fish limit for lingcod caught aboard the Miss Brooke.

By March, the number of fishable days increases, with longer periods between storms. Our charters run daily, weather permitting, with four-hour and six-hour charters. Beginning April 1, we will begin the long-range charters to Point St. George Reef, near the lighthouse, where we target trophy lingcod and trophy rockfish.

Halibut season opens May 1 on the Oregon Coast. This year’s limit remains two halibut per day. Out of Brookings, the best halibut fishing takes place in June, July and August, as more halibut migrate toward shore. Halibut spend the winter in deep water in the Gulf of Alaska, where they spawn, and move shallower, within 200 feet of water, to feed during the summer.

A couple of nice lingcod from a recent trip aboard the Miss Brooke.

Ocean salmon season typically runs late May through August. The 2026 season dates for the Oregon Coast will be announced in April. Out of Brookings, June and early July are the best months to troll for salmon.

To book an ocean charter, call (541) 813-1082 or visit www.brookingsfishing.com.

Here are some recent catches aboard the Miss Brooke and Nauti-Lady.

New year begins with abundant lingcod, big rockfish

BROOKINGS, Ore. (Jan. 20, 2026) – The 2026 ocean charter season is off to an exceptional start, with plentiful lingcod, big rockfish, bonus crab and incredible weather. Lingcod fishing has been good to excellent, with many anglers already cashing in on the new three-lingcod-a-day limit in Oregon, along with a jumbo grade of rockfish and enough Dungeness crab for a winter seafood feast fit for a king.

Happy customers pose with full limits of lingcod caught in January 2026 aboard the Miss Brooke with Capt. Chris.

Our charter boats have already run several trips to start the new year, with flat ocean conditions, light winds, and fast-and-furious fishing. Adding to the hot fishing has been frequent whale sightings, mild temperatures offshore, and mostly dry weather. Ocean charters are offered year round, weather permitting, and so far we’ve been on the water more often than previous years in January.

Frequent customer Chris Johnson with a pair of lunker lingcod caught on the Miss Brooke.

Capt. Chris has been getting into big numbers of lingcod on the Miss Brooke, with most of his customers returning with the full three-fish limit for lingcod, plus quick limits of lunker rockfish. Crabbing also has been worthwhile for the Miss Brooke crew.

Capt. Andy has been on the Nauti-Lady, where lingcod fishing also has been good. The lings are in shallow water, so light spinning tackle has been working well for fast action on the rockfish, then jigs or baits for lings. The lingcod move into shallow water during the winter months to stage before spawning. Big numbers of lingcod have been observed this year, evident by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife increasing the daily limit. Unlike rockfish, which can live for decades, lingcod are fast-growing and reach maturity in just a couple of years. An old lingcod is 6 years old, compared to rockfish, which can live for 50 years, and fish over 100 years old have been caught in Alaska.

Deckhand Sammy with a nice lingcod caught on the Nauti-Lady.

The best fishing has been from Bird Island north. Our crew has been making the long-range trip to Mack Arch for even better fishing, along with the incredible scenery along the remote section of Oregon Coast. Gray whales are migrating through the area, and some days our customers have watched in awe as half a dozen large whales swim past the boat, feeding on schools of baitfish next to the rocky reefs we fish.

Halibut season opens May 1, while ocean salmon season will open in May or June. Salmon dates will be finalized during an April meeting of state and federal fishery managers. Albacore tuna typically arrive off the Southern Oregon Coast in late June, and are usually within range of our fleet by July.

Sammy pulls a pot full of crab onto the Nauti-Lady after a day’s fishing.

Rockfish and lingcod trips run daily as the weather allows. Call (541) 813-1082 to book a trip or get on our winter call list. Trips also can be booked online at www.brookingsfishing.com.

Here are some more photos from our January 2026 ocean charters.

Trophy lingcod highlight great ocean fishing in 2025

BROOKINGS, Ore. (Jan. 1, 2026) – Giant lingcod, surprise halibut, lots of colorful vermillion rockfish and the best sport crabbing in recent memory highlighted the 2025 ocean fishing seasons off of Brookings. The impressive lingcod action, with numerous fish over 40 pounds caught on our charter boats this season, coincides with a growing lingcod population that has prompted the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to increase the daily limit to three lings in 2026.

Nauti-Lady deckhand Eric holds a trophy lingcod caught at Point St. George Reef during the 2025 season.
A 40-plus pound lingcod caught at Mack Arch aboard the Miss Brooke with Capt. Chris and deckhand Eric. It was one of more than a dozen 40-plus-pounders caught in 2025 from our charter boats.

Lingcod action started off great last year, and was steady the entire season. The Nauti-Lady, Kraken, Miss Brooke and Dash returned from charters with numerous lingcod over 30 pounds and the most over 40 pounds we’ve seen in one season. The best lingcod fishing was at Point St. George Reef, but big lings were also common at Mack Arch, and plenty of big fish were caught closer to the harbor between Bird Island and House Rock.

The lighthouse area also yielded several surprise Pacific halibut for our charter boats in 2025 while customers were jigging for lingcod and rockfish.

Frequent Brookings Fishing Charters customer Barb with her personal best lingcod caught in 2025 aboard the Miss Brooke.
Capt. Andy holds a trophy vermillion rockfish caught near House Rock aboard the Nauti-Lady, one of numerous trophy vermillion caught in 2025 on our charter boats.

Lingcod fishing ended the year on a high note, and expectations are high for continued above-average lingcod fishing in 2026. Winter is a good time to catch lingcod, as they move into shallow water to spawn. Big numerous of aggressive males, and the larger females stage in 20 to 60 feet of water from December through April to spawn, making winter and early spring the best time to catch lings in shallow water. Unlike rockfish, lingcod grow quickly, reaching maturity in just a couple of years. The prolific species is thriving off the Oregon Coast, with high populations to fuel a sustainable sport fishery.

Brookings Fishing Charters captains and deckhands are among the best lingcod guides on the entire West Coast, using techniques perfected in Alaska for targeting lingcod and incorporating them to our local fisheries. Capt. Andy and Capt. Rye both spent a decade apiece running charters for halibut and lingcod in Alaska before focusing their full-time, year-round efforts to the Oregon Coast.

A large lingcod and a surprise halibut caught aboard the Nauti-Lady at Point St. George Reef.

Sport crabbing was good throughout the year, with the best fishing in mid-summer and fall, as the commercial season ended, and again in December. We will be running more crabbing charters in 2026, with the arrival of the Umatilla II, which is equipped with a hydraulic crab block and has dozens of commercial-size pots for charter use.

The Umatilla II’s hydraulic crab block will give Brookings Fishing Charters customers even more crabbing opportunities in 2026.
Another giant lingcod caught aboard the Nauti-Lady in 2025.

Lingcod charters run daily, year-round, as the weather allows. To book a trip, call (541) 813-1082 or book online at www.brookingsfishing.com.

Here are a few more of the trophy lingcod and rockfish caught aboard our charter boats in 2025.

Oregon Coast Crab Roll delicious, easy to make

By Capt. Andy Martin – Full of anticipation, a dozen anglers on the Nauti-Lady peered over the side and eagerly watched as deckhand Eric pulled a crab pot from the depths of the coastal waters off of Brookings, Oregon. Hoisted from 100 feet below, the crab pot slowly came into view, with a blurry, tan-colored mass inside. The pot was stuffed full of Dungeness crab, and as Eric lifted the trap into the boat, the customers erupted into cheers. “Wow! What are we going to do with all that crab?”

The late summer and fall produce the best sport crabbing of the year on the Oregon Coast. With the commercial season closed, catch rates skyrocket, as the tasty crustaceans become easy pickings for charter boats and private boats setting pots in sandy areas off the coast. With an abundance of crab this time of year, our customers are often looking for more creative ways to enjoy their catch. Cracked crab with butter, crab cocktails and crab melts are delicious, but there are countless other ways to enjoy fresh, or previously frozen Dungeness crab.

Customers hold a few of the Dungeness crab caught during a fishing charter on the Nauti-Lady.

One of our favorite ways to enjoy freshly caught Dungeness is an Oregon Coast Crab Roll, a delicious, simple knockoff of the famed New Englund or Maine Lobster Rolls, with a true Oregon Coast twist. Many will argue Dungeness is the best-tasting crab, and even better than lobster. They are both great, but we obviously are partial to Dungeness from the Pacific Northwest.

Eric Howard, a deckhand on the Nauti-Lady, shows off a few crab from a recent charter.

The cold, creamy, rich taste of chilled crab with a little crunch from chopped celery, and freshness from a little lemon and dillweed make this an irresistible treat. Perfect for a summer lunch or unique meal for visiting guests or family, Oregon Coast Crab Rolls are a year-round favorite, made fresh when in season, and enjoyed later with frozen picked crab meat from the peak harvest in late summer.

The results of a bottom fishing and crab combo on the charter boat Kraken.

Lobster rolls originated in New Englund, with two variations – the original Connecticut version with warm butter and lemon juice, and another version, where mayonnaise replaces the butter and the roll is served cold. The first lobster rolls were a staple at Perry’s, a restaurant in Milford, Conn., beginning in 1929. Red’s Eats, a roadside seafood stand in Maine, sold lobster rolls in the 1970s, with lobster meat drenched in warm butter served on a hotdog bun. Today, most lobster rolls served in Maine, where they are readily available at many restaurants, are served cold.

Lobster rolls likely predate restaurants in New England. Commercial fishermen and sailors from Portugal and England often ate lobster with a bread roll, and ate the sandwiches at sea.

We’ve made Oregon Coast Crab Rolls hot and cold, and prefer the chilled alternative.

Most lobster rolls are served on a hotdog style bun, with the top cut out. We instead use croissants from a local bakery. The buttery flavor of a classic croissant complements the rich, delicious taste of crab!

The filling of the Oregon Coast Crab Roll is essentially a classic crab salad, with just a few ingredients: crab, celery, red onion, lemon juice, mayo, fresh dill and a pinch of Old Bay seasoning.

The crab salad is served on a croissant. It also is delicious with crackers, or served atop a green garden salad.

The basic ingredients for an Oregon Coast Crab Roll.
Mix the ingredients together and served over a croissant roll.
The chilled taste of Dungeness crab with a little crunch from red onion and celery is hard to beat.
A finished Oregon Coast Crab Roll.

Oregon Coast Crab Roll

1-2 pounds cooked, chilled Dungeness crab meat, removed from shell

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup finely chopped celery

2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning

1-2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

Croissant rolls, cut lengthwise for sandwiches

Instructions

Add crab, red onion, celery, mayo, lemon juice, Old Bay, dill, salt and pepper to a large bowl. Stir to combine.

Serve with a sliced croissant or other bread roll.

Refrigerate leftovers, serve with crackers or over salad.

Big lingcod biting at lighthouse, ocean salmon and halibut seasons begin

BROOKINGS, Ore. (June 4, 2025) – Lingcod fishing at Point St. George Reef Lighthouse has lived up to its billing, with limits of big fish during the first month of the season for the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet embarking on the long-range trip to the trophy grounds. Nearly every trip this season aboard the Nauti-Lady and Miss Brooke has resulted in full limits of lingcod and large rockfish at the lighthouse. The Alaska-style fishing already has many customers who fished in May scheduled for another charter later this summer to once again experience the world-class fishing at the prolific offshore reef.

A 32-pound lingcod caught aboard the Nauti-Lady in mid-May at Point St. George Reef.

Closer to the Port of Brookings, rockfish action has been very good, while lingcod fishing is fair. Ocean salmon season is open, and beginning June 7, anglers can keep hatchery coho salmon, which are already staging off the coast of Brookings. Pacific halibut season also is open. So far, the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet are the only charters to return to port with halibut and salmon. Catch rates improve considerably in June and July for both ocean salmon and Pacific halibut.

Frequent lighthouse customer Rod Allec of Happy Camp with a pair of nice lingcod caught aboard the Nauti-Lady.

The highlight of May was the wide-open action at Point St. George Reef, located between Brookings and Crescent City. The rugged reef, with an extremely jagged bottom, strong currents, and frequent depth changes is home to some of the best lingcod and rockfish habitat on the planet. It’s remote location makes it a top lingcod destination, with perhaps the best fishing outside of Alaska and British Columbia for trophy lingcod, and a wide variety of rockfish. Giant vermilion, canary, tiger, copper, black, China, blue, yellowtail and widow rockfish are often caught during the same trip, along with quillback and yelloweye rockfish, which are protected and must be released. The Brookings Fishing Charters fleet fishes shallow reefs for the rockfish so rockfish can be safely released without damage to the fish. The biggest lingcod also tend to be located in the rugged, jagged pinnacles of the shallow reefs, where they hide in crevices and ambush their main prey, rockfish, octopus and small flatfish.

Nice limits of lingcod from a long-range trip aboard the Nauti-Lady.

So far this season, the biggest lingcod landed on the Nauti-Lady was a 32-pounder. Lots of fish in the upper 20s have been caught on both the Nauti-Lady and Miss Brooke. During the wide-open bite near the lighthouse, up to a dozen legal-size lingcod have been released during a trip as the customers finish up their rockfish limits.

A nice king caught aboard the Miss Brooke in May. Ocean coho season opens June 7!

Ocean salmon season started out slow in May, which is typically the case. Mid-June through mid-July is the peak season for salmon out of Brookings. A number of coho salmon were released in May while the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet fished for king salmon. Coho season opens June 7. The ocean abundance forecast for coho salmon is more than half a million hatchery fish, which return to hatcheries on the Columbia and Snake rivers. Those fish spend the ocean portion of their life off the Southern Oregon Coast, and slowly migrate back to the rivers during the summer. Peak numbers of coho, also known as silver salmon, are feeding near Brookings early in the season, in June and the first half of July.

Capt. Chris holds a 65-pound halibut caught aboard the Miss Brooke in May 2025.

Halibut season opened May 1, with a few fish caught out of Brookings. The best fishing is later in June, July and August, as more halibut migrate in from deeper water. Halibut spawn in the Gulf of Alaska during the winter months, and then migrate closer to shore during the summer to feed on baitfish. Catch rates increase throughout the summer, as this fish move in from 1,000 feet of water during the spring to depths as shallow as 150 feet in mid summer.

A nice variety of rockfish are being caught this season near the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse.

With decades of Alaska fishing experience, the Brookings Fishing Charters crew is best chance for success for halibut out of Brookings, as the captains have developed custom rigs while fishing at anchor to maximize the odds of catch halibut off the Southern Oregon Coast.

Sport crabbing has been slow out of Brookings, which is normally the case in late spring and the start of summer. By mid-summer, crabbing improves, and remains an option during fishing charters.

To book an trip to the lighthouse, or a local rockfish, halibut or salmon charters, visit www.brookingsfishing.com, or call (541) 813-1082.

Here are some more catches from May with the Brookings Fishing Charters crew.

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.

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.

Extra crispy beer-battered halibut.