Tag: Brookings fishing report

Brown Sugar Cured Smoked Salmon or Steelhead

Smoking salmon or steelhead is one of the most popular ways of enjoying the highly prized Oregon Coast fish. While there are dozens of great recipes for smoked fish, our favorite involves a quick and simple dry cure that is both sweet and salty, but not too much of either. Brown sugar cured salmon or steelhead is a tried and true smoked fish recipe that has regained popularity in recent years.

Chetco River steelhead smoked after being cured with brown sugar and salt.

The fish is cured with a dry cure. No brine is involved. The end result is smoked fish with all of its flavor, and the perfect texture. This recipe is especially popular for steelhead and coho salmon, which have more of a mild flavor compared to king salmon, but it works great for all species of salmon, including those caught in the ocean or river.

The dry cure is simple. Four parts brown sugar (light or dark may be used) and one part non-iodized salt. For a single coho or steelhead, two cups brown sugar and a half of cup of salt work. For multiple fish, or a large king salmon, use four cups brown sugar and one cup salt. Mix the brown sugar and salt in a plastic bag.

Steelhead fillets cut into small pieces for smoking.

Cut the salmon or steelhead fillet into smaller pieces. The smaller pieces will cure more evenly, and smoke better than larger fillets. For best results, remove the rib bones, although they can be left if desired. Leave the skin on the fillets, as they will be smoked skin-side down.

Cure the fish in a large glass baking dish. A large plastic bowl also will work, or even a bucket if you have several salmon to cure and smoke.

The brown sugar cure over the steelhead fillets.

Layer the bottom of the baking dish with the small pieces of fillets, skin-side down. Place a single layer on the dish. Apply a generous amount of the brown sugar and salt mixture over the fish. Add a second layer of fish, skin-side down, over the initial layer, and then another coat of the brown sugar cure.

The second layer of salmon fillets.

Continue to add layers of salmon or steelhead, and the brown sugar cure. After just a few minutes, the dry cure will begin to pull the moisture/liquid from the salmon or steelhead fillets. Cover with a plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator or a cool area (the garage) for three or four hours.

After just a few minutes, the sugar and salt will begin to become saturated with moisture from the fish.
The cure dissolves as it pulls the moisture from the fish.

After an hour, the sugar and salt will be completely dissolved as it pulls the moisture and liquid from the fish. After three to four hours of curing, stir the fish by hand to ensure all the fillet pieces are covered with the cure.

Stir the fillets to make sure they are completely exposed to the cure.

Cure the fish for 12 to 24 hours. Smaller pieces will cure quicker. Larger king salmon may need the total cure time of 24 hours, or longer. The fish will take on a brighter color, and the meat will be firmer once it is cured.

When its ready to smoke, remove it from the cure, shake or wipe off the remaining cure and place on the smoke trays or screens to air dry. Do not rinse.

The fillets will be bright and firm once cured.
The unrinsed fillets are allowed to air dry.

Once the fillets have air dried and are firm and tacky, season to taste with garlic powder, black pepper, dill weed and lemon pepper. Some people simply add a little black pepper and no other seasonings.

Once the fillets are tacky, season and begin to smoke.
Use apple, cherry or alder chips.

Smoke the fish for 6 to 12 hours. Use three pans fulls of chips, and then simply use the heat from the smoker. Continuing to add chips/smoke after the first 1 to 2 hours can give the fish a bitter taste.

The Big Chief Smoker doing its thing.

If you like sweeter smoked fish, add a small amount of honey to each fillet halfway through the smoking process.

During the winter months, or on the coast during cool, foggy weather, sometimes it is necessary to finish the fish off in the oven. If necessary, finish cooking the salmon at a low temperate (175-200 degrees) for 20 to 30 minutes in the oven.

The finished product.
King salmon caught on the Miss Brooke of Brookings Fishing Charters.

Manhattan clam chowder a tasty, low-carb altenative to traditional chowder

By Capt. Andy Martin – Growing up on the Oregon Coast, traditional New England clam chowder, and other seafood dishes, were readily available. We ate seafood several times a week. A dish my family never enjoyed is Manhattan clam chowder. The thought of a tomato-based clam chowder just wasn’t appealing.

I first made Manhattan clam chowder a few years ago while looking for a keto-friendly, low-carb version of clam chowder. The results were surprising. Manhattan clam chowder is delicious, easy to make, and much lower in carbs than cream- and potato-based chowders. The following recipe is more of a traditional Manhattan clam chowder – to reduce carbs, simply reduce or eliminate the potatoes, use less onion and forgo the carrots. Zucchini may also be substituted for potatoes.

Manhattan clam chowder is a simple, delicious alternative to New England clam chowder.

Ingredients

4-6 slices bacon

1 small onion, diced

1-2 carrots, chopped

2-4 medium potatoes, diced

2 garlic cloves, chopped, or 2 teaspoons minced garlic

1/2 cup white wine

3 tablespoons tomato paste

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

2 bay leaves

2 cans (14.5 ounce each) chicken broth

2 cans (14.5 ounces each) diced tomatoes

1 bottle (8 ounces) clam juice

2 cans (6.5 ounces each) diced clams

1 can (6.5 ounces) minced clams

1 cube (8 tablespoons) butter

1/3 cub fresh parsley, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

Fresh potatoes, carrots, onion and celery makes this a wholesome meal.

Heat a large soup pot over medium heat, add a small amount of oil, and cook bacon. While bacon is cooking, chop the potatoes, onion, celery, garlic and carrots.

Remove cooked bacon. Lower heat to medium low and add potatoes, onion, carrots, garlic and celery to bacon grease. Chop bacon and add it to the vegetables. Cook for 7 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add the wine, cover with lid, and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the tomato paste, bay leaves and thyme.

Add tomatoes with liquid, chicken broth and clam juice. Heat to a boil at medium high heat, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.

Return heat to medium high, add clams with juice, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer again, add stick of butter. Season with salt and pepper. Once butter is melted, stir in parsley. Serve.

(Capt. Andy Martin owns and operates Brookings Fishing Charters. When he is not running charters aboard the Nauti-Lady, Miss Brooke or Kraken, he enjoys cooking).

Nauti-Lady customers catching big lings

The Nauti-Lady, the 42-foot party boat usually used for half-day bottom fishing trips for Brookings Fishing Charters, has been getting customers into nice lingcod as of late. In between winter storms, the Nauti-Lady has been venturing offshore for lingcod and rockfish, with an occasional trip to the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse.

Mark, a frequent Brookings Fishing Charters customer, holds a limit of lingcod caught on the Nauti-Lady.

Just before Thanksgiving, the Nauti-Lady took a family out for a half-day bottom fishing trip, and aside from nice limits of rockfish, they hammered the lingcod in shallow water. One of the young anglers excitedly said the charter was one of the “best days of my life.” The lingcod action was fast and furious that day.

A family holds their Thanksgiving week catch of lingcod from the Nauti-Lady.

Another customer fished aboard the Nauti-Lady in November for her birthday. She caught a limit of rockfish and a limit of lingcod. She said the charter fishing experience was a great way to spend her birthday, and she was pleased with the catch and experience.

Earlier this fall, anglers aboard the Nauti-Lady also encountered great rockfish action, and lingcod-after-lingcod near House Rock.

During the late summer, the Nauti-Lady made numerous trips to the lighthouse, where the lingcod action is among the best on the West Coast. Lingcod from 5 to 25 pounds were caught, with a few bigger fish mixed in.

Cathy celebrated her birthday aboard the Nauti-Lady in November, and caught her limit of lingcod.

The Nauti-Lady joined the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet in 2020. Originally from Ilwaco, Wash., the Nauti-Lady is a 42-foot Rawson specifically designed for Northwest charter fishing. It is skippered by Capt. Andy Martin, as well as Capt. Michael McGahan. The charter boat is especially popular with families and large groups, but also runs mixed charters to the lighthouse and the local half-day trips to Bird Island and Twin Rocks.

The Brookings Fishing Charters fleet also includes the Miss Brooke, Kraken, Papa B, Dash and Bout Time. All of the captains are local, full-time, year-round charter boat captains and fishing guides.

Here are some of the great lingcod catches in recent weeks aboard the Nauti-Lady.

Brookings enjoys stellar tuna season

The albacore tuna action was fast and furious for a couple of weeks this summer out of Brookings, as the hard-fighting, great-eating fish came within 20 miles of the harbor and produced steady action for the charter and private boat fleet.

Customers hold some of the albacore tuna they caught in August 2021 aboard the Nauti-Lady.

Brookings Fishing Charters ran numerous tuna trips this summer aboard the Miss Brooke, Nauti-Lady, Dash and Papa B. The best action was in mid-August, but fish were caught in early September as well.

Anglers watched satellite images for weeks and waited for a break in the weather. On Aug. 12, Capt. Andy aboard the Nauti-Lady found 59-degree water only 18 miles offshore. He took 12 anglers aboard the Nauti-Lady to the tuna grounds, and they got into the albacore quickly trolling tuna drones behind Okuma big game rods combined with Penn Squall big game reels. A few miles further offshore, Capt. Travis and Capt. Michael aboard the Miss Brooke found another large school of tuna and quickly filled their fish bags and barrels.

A boat full of albacore tuna caught aboard The Dash with Capt. Mick.

The next day, the Miss Brooke, Dash and Papa B returned to the tuna grounds for more hot action. The Brookings Fishing Charters crew ran a few more trips that week before windy weather returned. Later in the month, tuna were still caught, but the fish had moved offshore and scattered.

During the peak of the action in mid-August, the Dash returned to port with 75 tuna for five anglers. The boat ran out of room to hold any more tuna. Most days the charters averaged four to six tuna a person.

Capt. Travis shows off an average tuna from the Miss Brooke this past summer.

The Brookings Fishing Charters fleet is equipped with the highest-quality tuna gear in the local charter fleet, with Penn reels and high-end big game rods, plugs a wide selection of tuna lures. The six-pack boats also get to the tuna grounds quickly, while the Nauti-Lady can accommodate larger groups and hold bigger quantities of fish.

To learn more about tuna fishing with Brookings Fishing Charters, visit www.brookingsfishing.com. Most tuna trips are booked through a call list, since the albacore arrive off the coast of Brookings at different times each summer.

A nice load of tuna from the Dash in 2021.
Some of the great albacore tuna caught aboard the Papa B with Capt. Mike.
Customers hold some of the albacore tuna caught aboard the Miss Brooke during the summer of 2021.
One of many double hookups aboard the Nauti-Lady.
Family fun catching albacore aboard the Miss Brooke.
Another double aboard the Nauti-Lady.
Wheel barrels full of albacore tuna after a day of fishing aboard the Nauti-Lady.

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.

41-footer expands Brookings charter fleet

A beautiful 41-foot fiberglass charter boat that has been an active part of the fishing scene at the mouth of the Columbia River has been added to the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet. Last week, the Nauti-Lady made the 300-mile voyage from Ilwaco, Wash., to Brookings, where she joins the Miss Brooke, Papa B, The Dash and Bout Time, the charter boats working out of the Brookings Fishing Charters office.

The Nauti-Lady is a 41-foot Rawson charter boat now part of the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet. She is captained by Andy Martin

The Nauti-Lady was operated by the Schenk family, owner of Sea Breeze Charters in Ilwaco. The boat was part of the famed “Charter Row” in Ilwaco, a busy sportfishing charter boat town at the mouth of the Columbia River. Four generations of the Schenks operated charter boats in Ilwaco, but with the recent retirement of one of the owners and skippers, the family had more charter boats than captains. This summer, the family agreed to sell the Nauti-Lady to Brookings Fishing Charters.

In Ilwaco, the Nauti-Lady was a prolific member of the charter fleet, running salmon, halibut, albacore tuna and bottom fishing charters in the ocean, and sturgeon and salmon trips in the lower Columbia River. Most recently, the boat was a workhorse, making frequent trips to Tillamook Head for rockfish and lingcod.

Capt. Andy takes possession of the Nauti-Lady in Newport, Ore., from Capt. Dan, the longtime owner and operator.

Last week, the Nauti-Lady was delivered from Ilwaco to Newport, where Capt. Andy took possession and then made the 200-mile voyage to Brookings, with an overnight stay in Charleston/Coos Bay. Capt. Dan and his sons and few friends made the initial run, giving them a final trip aboard a boat that had been in their family for decades. A brief weather window allowed for the trip after stormy seas and high winds in the weeks leading up to the trip south. Just before the trip south, the boat was hauled out so the bottom could be painted and the Coast Guard could perform its annual inspection.

The Nauti-Lady makes her way south of Newport on her run to Brookings.

As part of the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet, the Nauti-Lady will primarily run half-day bottom fishing trips, but also will be used for Pacific halibut, tuna, salmon and lighthouse trips. With a U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection (COI) for 28 people, the Nauti-Lady has one of the largest capacities on the Southern Oregon coast. Most days, however, smaller groups, less than 14, will fish during the half-day charters.

The Nauti-Lady, with Capt. Andy on the flybridge, arrives in Brookings.

The Nauti-Lady is equipped with the latest in marine electronics and safety equipment. She has more than 30 life jackets, two 15-person life rafts, an EPIRB (emergency radio beacon), five marine radios, Simard radar, Garmin chartplotters and sonars, and Lowrance chartplotters. The boat also has inside and deck seating, two marine toilets and enclosed restrooms, a freshwater sink, and full-perimeter fishing with 20 rod holders spaced around the charter boat.

Capt. Andy is no stranger to the larger inspected party boats. He spent 10 years running charters in Alaska, including the larger party boats in Seward, where he operated salmon, halibut and bottom fishing charters. Hundreds of trips in the Gulf of Alaska gave Andy experience running in rough water and operating charter boats in almost every condition and scenario possible. Fortunately, Brookings has some of the calmest ocean conditions on the Oregon Coast.

The Nauti-Lady is moored in the sport boat basin at the Port of Brookings.

The Nauti-Lady will compliment the Brookings charter fleet. There were plenty of days this past summer when the six-packs of Brookings Fishing Charters were booked and there wasn’t enough room for anglers wanting to fish. There also were numerous days when most of the seats booked were for half-day bottom fishing trips, and boats weren’t available for salmon, halibut or lighthouse trips.

The Nauti-Lady features the same light tackle that makes the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet a favorite, and provides a larger fishing platform during those days with bigger swells or chop.

Trips aboard the Nauti-Lady will soon be available.

Lighthouse trips a hit with customers

Brookings Fishing Charters’ new long-range trips to the historic Point St. George Lighthouse have been a hit with customers, who have caught trophy-size lingcod and rockfish in recent weeks while fishing at the extremely productive reef between Brookings and Crecent City.

Customers hold limits of lingcod caught aboard the Miss Brooke in mid-August 2020 near the Point St. George Reef lighthouse.

“This was one of my favorite saltwater trips ever!,” said customer Brent Foster. “Amazing fishing on a great boat with super captain and crew. Thanks Capt. Travis and Michael for a memorable day with Brookings Fishing Charters.

Capt. Michael holds a lingcod that hitchhiked to the surface on a smaller lingcod near the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse.

“That was a fabulous trip,” said Cole Tidwell. “Thank you for a great time.”

Cole Tidwell of Grants Pass, Ore., holds a trophy vermilion rockfish caught aboard the Miss Brooke.

The lighthouse is approximately 11 miles offshore of Brookings at the edge of the Point St. George Reef. The fishing there is unmatched compared to other local areas, with larger-than-average lingcod, canary rockfish, vermilion rockfish, cabezon and tiger rockfish. Lingcod to 20 pounds are common, and lings over 30 pounds are caught several times a season.

Miss Brooke customers hold limits of lingcod from the Point St. George Reef.

Brookings Fishing Charters is one of the Brookings-based charter companies licensed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to take customers to the reef. A pair of marine reserves border the area, but the open section has world class lingcod and rockfish action, comparable to the best Alaska has to offer. Currently, the Miss Brooke and The Dash have California permits for the lighthouse area.

One of the trophy lingcod caught in August by a Brookings Fishing Charters customer.

Trips to the lighthouse and reef originate in Brookings, but fish in California waters before returning to Oregon. Anglers must have a California and Oregon license for the trip. One-day licenses are available.

Dave Miller of Shady Cove, Ore., with a monster lighthouse lingcod.

The run to the lighthouse is fast and comfortable aboard Brookings Fishing Charters’ six-pack boats. Because only six passengers are fishing, anglers can focus on larger fish, carefully releasing smaller ones with descending devices. Brookings Fishing Charters’ crew also are experts at targeting lingcod, especially larger specimens, and consistently catch large lingcod and limits for the boat. Quality light tackle makes the trip even more exciting.

Don Williams of Brookings with his Point St. George trophy lingcod.
Capt. Michael holds a trophy lighthouse lingcod.
Big lingcod are common at the lighthouse.
Two lingcod caught on the same rod at the lighthouse.

Aside from the lighthouse trips, Brookings Fishing Charters ran several successful halibut charters the past week, with quality fish to 40 pounds. Halibut season remains open through October out of Brookings. It is the longest season for Pacific halibut outside of Alaska.

Capt. Mick and customers from The Dash with limits of Pacific halibut.
Capt. Michael holds a 40-pound Pacific halibut caught aboard the Miss Brooke.
A couple of Pacific halibut caught with Brookings Fishing Charters in August 2020.
Pacific halibut have been making Brookings Fishing Charters customers happy.
Capt. Travis with a tiger rockfish from the Point St. George Reef.
Capt. Andy with a large vermilion rockfish from the Point St. George Reef.
One of many tiger rockfish caught in August aboard the Miss Brooke.
Tiger rockfish are rare out of Brookings, but more abundant at the Point St. George Reef.
Dave Miller with a limit of dandy lingcod from the lighthouse.
The Miss Brooke arrives at the historic Point St. George Reef Lighthouse.
Fish on, calm water, in front of the lighthouse. It doesn’t get any better than that!

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

Halibut action heats up near Brookings

Anglers fishing out of the Port of Brookings Harbor are being treated to a surprisingly good season for Pacific halibut, while their cousins the California halibut also are making a strong appearance. Brookings Fishing Charters has been at the forefront of getting anglers into these prized fish.

Bruce Beck, a frequent customer of Brookings Fishing Charters, holds a 40-inch Pacific halibut caught with Capt. Andy Martin in early August 2020.

The season for Pacific halibut has been open since May 1. The fishing has generally been good when boats can make it to the deeper water Pacific halibut live in. In recent weeks, however, fishing has been surprisingly good. Bigger numbers of halibut are being caught, and boats are actually returning with limits. “Normally, when someone goes out of Brookings for halibut, catching one fish and especially caching two fish is a good day,” said Capt. Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters LLC. “Catching a boat limit of Pacific halibut has always been a fairly rare feat out of Brookings. We are essentially at the southern end of their range, and the halibut populations are smaller here.” But this year, halibut numbers are up. Some boats are getting two or even three halibut a trip, although most are small between 10 and 20 pounds.

Customers of Brookings Fishing Charters hold their one-fish limit for Pacific halibut in their right hand and a California halibut in their left hand. The fish were caught in August 2020.

In early August, with calm ocean conditions, Capt. Andy ran a pair of halibut trips out of Brookings. The results were very impressive. His customers caught boat limits of Pacific halibut two days in a row, five the first day and seven the next. The biggest fish was nearly 40 pounds. After limits of Pacific halibut in deeper water, Capt. Andy headed to shallow water, where his customers each caught one to three California halibut each. The combined catch of Cali Hali and Pacific halibut in the same day was something even ODFW said was a rare sight. The limits of Pacific halibut also turned heads, catching the attention of other anglers anxious to learn how and where such big numbers of Pacific halibut were being caught out of Brookings.

Capt. Andy with a Pacific halibut caught on one of his charters last week.

Capt. Andy holds a distinct advantage over most charter boat operators on the Oregon Coast when it comes to halibut fishing. He ran offshore charter boats in Alaska for a decade, both larger inspected party boats with more than a dozen passengers, and six-pack charter boats similar to those operated by Brookings Fishing Charters. His customers have landed thousands upon thousands of halibut, and he is an expert at finding and catching them. His biggest catch in Alaska was over 90 inches and weighed over 400 pounds.

Brookings Fishing Charters customers pose with Pacific halibut, front row, California halibut, second row, and petrale sole.

The Pacific halibut season runs through October out of Brookings, or until the quota is filled. Now that salmon season is over, the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet will focus on Pacific halibut and California halibut when the weather allows them to get to the fishing grounds.

Bruce Beck admires a Pacific halibut gaffed by Shane Brooks during a charter last week.

The Brookings Fishing Charters boats have the latest halibut gear, and anglers use advanced techniques perfect by the captains. Capt. Andy, Capt. Travis, Capt. Rye and Capt. Shane all have considerable Alaska and Oregon halibut fishing experience. Each has guided customers to countless halibut. “There are little tricks, special ways to bait hooks, custom rigs, use of scents, selecting locations, judging currents and deciding on what depth to fish that you learn by trial and error, and lots of experience,” Martin said. “Our captains have probably forgotten more about halibut fishing than most people will ever know.”

Bruce Beck holds a beautiful California halibut caught an hour after he landed a Pacific halibut in deeper water.

Pacific halibut are caught in deeper water, using larger baits, waiting patiently for a strike. Sand dabs and petrale sole also are caught while halibut fishing. California halibut are caught in shallow water, by trolling baits. Brookings is perhaps the best area to catch Pacific halibut and California halibut in the same day.

Capt. Shane nets a keeper California halibut.

To learn more about halibut trips, call Brookings Fishing Charters, (541) 813-1082.

Rockfish limit increases to 7!

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has increased the bag limit for rockfish out of Brookings and other Oregon Coast harbors to seven a day, up from five. Anglers also can keep two lingcod per day. The increased limit has been a hit with charter customers, who can now bring home more fish.

The limit is any combination of black, blue, canary, yellowtail and vermilion rockfish. As part of the regulation change, China, copper and quillback rockfish must be released.

Rockfish, also known as Pacific snapper, rockcod, sea bass and black bass, are among the most abundant fish on the Oregon Coast, and prized for their excellent table fare, especially for fish and chips for fish tacos.

A customer holds a tiger rockfish caught in early August 2020 with Capt. Andy of Brookings Fishing Charters. The limit for rockfish is now seven a person per day.

Fishing for rockfish and lingcod has been good out of Brookings in recent weeks, especially during calmer weather days. There have been some days that it has been too windy to fish. Most of the rockfish being caught are blacks, but plenty of blues and canaries also are being caught, with an occasional vermilion. Capt. Andy got a customer into a seldom-caught tiger rockfish in early August out of Gold Beach.

A nice lingcod caught at Mack Arch.

Now that salmon season has closed out of Brookings (the season ran June 21-Aug. 7), the Brookings Fishing Charters crew is focusing on rockfish and lingcod, California and Pacific halibut, and keeping an eye on the tuna catches offshore. So far, the albacore tuna have been too far out of Brookings to effectively target.

Nice lingcod caught on the Miss Brooke.

Lingcod fishing has improved in shallow water, as fish begin to move in from deeper areas to feed and eventually spawn this winter. August and September generally produce good lingcod fishing out of Brookings.

A nice lingcod caught aboard the Miss Brooke.
King salmon was very good at times this season out of Brookings for the charter boat Miss Brooke of Brookings Fishing Charters

The salmon season is over until next year. This year, the Miss Brooke of Brookings Fishing Charters was by far the highliner boat in the local charter fleet, catching hundred of kings for customers. Capt. Travis and Capt. Michael had the kings dialed in, and often caught fish when most other boats failed to get bit. The size of the salmon was great this season, with lots of fish over 20 pounds.

The increased rockfish limit has led to lots of happy customers, like these anglers who fished on the Papa B in early August.

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

Nice weather improves lingcod, rockfish action

After two weeks of extremely windy weather, the ocean calmed down this week, giving anglers a better shot at lingcod and rockfish. Salmon fishing, meanwhile, slowed after very good fishing the first two weeks of the season.

Nice salmon caught aboard the Miss Brooke in late June. After two weeks of hot fishing, the salmon action slowed over the long Fourth of July holiday in Brookings.

With the calm weather, our charters made it back to Mack Arch for the first time in a few weeks. The rockfish action has been wide open, with rockfish feeding on crab spawn near the surface, while some nice lingcod also have been caught. One of our customers, Julie from Shady Cove, Ore., caught an impressive 27-pound lingcod on July 6.

Julie Jackson holds a 27-pound lingcod caught July 6 aboard the Miss Brooke of Brookings Fishing Charters.

The lingcod and rockfish charters also are yielding lots of color. We are catching vermilion and canary rockfish, along with lunker-size black and blue rockfish. The rockfish action has been some of the best we’ve seen so far this season.

A beautiful vermilion rockfish caught on the guide sled with Capt. Andy.

Brookings had really good salmon fishing from the June 20 opener through the end of the month. But cooler water from strong winds and upwelling offshore pushed the schools of salmon away from the harbor. The water temperature dropped to 46 degrees. It is slowly warming this week, and bait is still thick, so we expect an improved salmon bite this weekend.

Anglers hold the results of a July 4 double-hookup on the Miss Brooke.

Salmon season runs through Aug. 7. The limit is two king salmon, hatchery or wild, a day, with a 24-inch minimum length. The kings are running large this year, with fish to 25 pounds or biggers.

Nice kings from July 3 on the Miss Brooke.

There are reports of albacore tuna off the Oregon Coast. Several boats plan to scout the tuna grounds this weekend. If they find them within 30 miles, we will soon offer tuna trips. A few Pacific halibut also were caught this week out of Brookings.

The average size of the salmon off of Brookings this year has been excellent.

During good weather days, we are offering afternoon bottom fishing charters, along with the normal morning charters. The afternoon trips are popular with families, or people traveling from the Rogue Valley who would rather drive over in the morning instead of the day before.

We have been catching a lot of canary rockfish on our 6-hour bottom fishing charters to the north of Brookings. The grade is excellent.

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