Tag: brookings fishing reports

Rockfish, lingcod plentiful off Brookings

BROOKINGS, Ore. (April 17, 2023) – A break in the weather, with several fishable days per week, has allowed the Brookings Fishing Charters crew to run numerous trips the first half of April, resulting in limits of rockfish and a nice variety of lingcod. Some lunker vermilion rockfish have shown up in the catch, along with limits of lingcod on many of our longer 6-plus-hour charters. Halibut season is just around the corner!

Limits of lingcod from mid-April on the Miss Brooke.

The Brookings Fishing Charters fleet – including the Miss Brooke, Kraken, Nauti-Lady, Dash and Papa B – is running bottom fishing trips daily, as the weather allows. Beginning May 1, halibut trips will be an option. The Point St. George Reef Lighthouse, located just across the border between Brookings and Crescent City, opens to fishing May 15. Ocean salmon season for hatchery coho opens June 17. With the largest charter fleet in the area, Brookings Fishing Charters will offer a large selection of ocean charters this summer, with options ranging from 4-hour local bottom fishing trips to 8-plus-hour salmon and rockfish or halibut and salmon combo trips.

Limits of lingcod caught aboard the Papa B in mid April.

Rough weather kept boats at the docks for much of the late winter and early spring, but conditions improved this past week. The charter fleet ran several trips for lingcod and rockfish, with good catches of both. Lingcod continue to spawn in shallow water, allowing our customers to catch them with light tackle. Rockfish also are schooled up closer to shore and wash rocks, allowing lighter jigs to be used to catch them.

Capt. Kirby holds a 10-pound vermilion rockfish caught in mid April aboard the Nauti-Lady.

During halibut season, which runs May 1-Oct. 31, our charter boats anchor in productive areas for the prized fish. In recent years, the Brookings Fishing Charters crew has developed a reputation for producing the highest catch rates out of Brookings, with limits common the second half of the season. The best halibut fishing out of Brookings is usually late June through September. Halibut are caught in May, but limits of less frequent early in the season.

A nice limit of lingcod from the Papa B.

During ocean salmon season, our charter boats troll with anchovies or herring. While ocean salmon season is closed in California this year, it is open June 17-Aug. 31 out of Brookings. Two hatchery coho – also known as silver salmon – may be kept per day. Fishing for silver salmon is often fast and furious. They are known to be aggressive biters, and limits are common early in the season, as the fish migrate back to the Columbia River. Big numbers of hatchery coho salmon have been released into the Columbia River in recent years by Native American tribes that operate their own fish hatcheries. Those salmon migrate south after leaving the Columbia River and spend the ocean portion of their life off of Northern California and Southern Oregon. They are aggressively feeding as they make their way back to the river.

Deckhand Eric holds a nice lingcod caught in mid April.

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

When the lighthouse area opens May 15, we run our long-range trips for trophy lingcod and rockfish. These trips are highly popular because of the size of the lingcod at the lighthouse, and their high abundance. Because there are no depth restrictions for rockfish this year in Oregon or California, we now will be able to combine the lighthouse trips with salmon or halibut combos, meaning we can have rockfish on board as we fish deeper water for halibut, or troll for coho salmon on the way back to the port in Brookings. These trips are only offered by Brookings Fishing Charters.

Below are some of the catches aboard our charters in early and mid April.

Lingcod action solid when weather allows

BROOKINGS, Ore. (April 1, 2023) – Lingcod fishing has been good out of the Port of Brookings when ocean conditions allow, although there were more rough weather days in March than fishable days. When the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet can get out of port, limits of rockfish and good numbers of lingcod have been common. Weather conditions typically improve in April, as winter storms become less frequent.

A customer holds a nice lingcod caught aboard the Miss Brooke in late March 2023.

Lingcod and rockfish season is open year round on the Oregon Coast. The Brookings Fishing Charters fleet runs charters out of the Port of Brookings year round. During the winter and early spring, lingcod are in shallow water spawning. Anglers are able to target them in shallow water with light tackle.

Eric, a deckhand on the Miss Brooke, holds some of the nice rockfish caught in late March.
Mark holds a nice lingcod caught aboard the Kraken on Spring Break 2023.

During the first week of Spring Break 2023, the Brookings Fishing Crews fished several families on their first ever ocean charter. Many of these groups were from Eastern Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada and Northern California. We also had large numbers of our regular customers from the Rogue Valley, Klamath Basin and Siskiyou County.

A family from Eugene shows the results for a double, double-hookup of rockfish on the Nauti-Lady.

Trips are available during the spring on the Miss Brooke, Kraken, Papa B, Dash and Nauti-Lady. We are offering our popular four-hour bottom fishing trips, and the longer 6-plus-hour targeted lingcod trip. Lingcod and rockfish are caught on both charters, but the catch rate for lingcod improves on the longer trip, as more time is spent targeting lingcod, larger baits are used, and the trips travel further up the coast to less-fished waters.

A nice lingcod from Spring Break 2023 caught on the Miss Brooke.

We will find out early this month what the dates for this summer’s ocean salmon season will be. We are expecting a June 17 opener for coho salmon on the entire Oregon Coast. Chinook season will be closed this summer in the ocean waters off of California, in the Sacramento and Klamath rivers, and in the ocean in most of Oregon until Sept. 1. The bay seasons will go on as normal on the Rogue and Umpqua rivers and at the mouth of the Columbia River. Normal salmon seasons also are expected on the Chetco and Smith rivers, where the Brookings Fishing Charters captains run drift boat trips during the fall and winter.

An angler holds a vermilion and canary rockfish caught on the Nauti-Lady in late March.

Pacific halibut season opens May 1 out of Brookings. The Brookings Fishing Charters crew has a well-earned reputation for producing the highest halibut catch rates out of Brookings. Trips run daily, weather permitting. Typically, the best halibut fishing is in late June, July and August. We also will be offering trips to the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse beginning May 15. Those trips produce catches of lingcod and rockfish that rival those in Alaska.

A nice lingcod from the Dash in March 2023.
Kirby, a longtime deckhand in Brookings, holds his certificate for his 100-ton near coastal masters US Coast Guard captains license course.

In March, longtime Brookings deckhand Kirby Anderson completed his courses for his 100-ton Near Coastal Masters US Coast Guard captains license. Kirby has worked on charter boats and commercial fishing boats in Brookings for decades. A longtime Brookings resident, Kirby went to high school in Brookings with Capt. Andy and Capt. Travis. He will soon be at the helm of the Brookings Fishing Charters boats running trips as a captain. A number of local charter boat captains earned their sea time and experience working as deckhands with Brookings Fishing Charters. Eric, who is still in high school, is also accumulating sea time to earn his captains license.

The Nauti-Lady during a Spring Break 2023 charter off the coast of Brookings.

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

Halibut season set for Brookings

The season for Pacific halibut, one of the most prized fish caught off the Oregon Coast, opens May 1 out of the Port of Brookings. Each year, the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet is the most successful group of charter boats and captains at catching halibut off the coast of Brookings. Their catch rates speak for themselves.

Halibut are generally caught in 175 to 250 feet of water off of Brookings, much shallower than most of the Oregon Coast. Brookings also has the longest season, from May 1-Oct. 31, open seven days a week.

Customers hold limits of halibut caught aboard the Dash in 2022.

Brookings Fishing Charters captains Andy Martin and Rye Phillips played a major role in revolutionizing the halibut fishing off of Brookings. Charter boats would occasionally catch halibut out of Brookings, but 10 years ago, after running charter boats in Alaska for a decade, Andy and Rye used techniques they used up north to drastically increase catch rates out of Brookings. Instead of just a fish or two per trip, they began limiting out on halibut out of Brookings on a consistent basis.

Capt. Mick and Capt. Sam admire limits of halibut caught during the 2022 season with Brookings Fishing Charters.

Halibut trips run 8 hours. The limit is one halibut per day, the same coastwide. Anglers in most of Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and California also are limited to one halibut per day. The average size of a halibut out of Brookings is around 20 pounds, although fish in the 30 and even 40-pound range are caught regularly.

Capt. Rye holds a halibut close to 100 pounds caught on his charter boat a couple of years ago out of Brookings.
Capt. Mick with a large halibut caught in 2022 aboard the Dash out of Brookings.

Over the years, the Brookings Fishing Charters crew has discovered the most productive halibut spots out of Brookings, allowing them to consistently return with limits of Pacific halibut. Calm weather days produce the best catch rates, as we often anchor to maximize the amount of productive fishing time.

This year, ODFW and CDFW have lifted depth restrictions on rockfish, allowing halibut, lingcod and rockfish trips to coincide. Brookings Fishing Charters offers halibut charters, and a special halibut and rockfish combo trip.

Capt. Andy holds a halibut caught aboard the Nauti-Lady. Andy has been a captain for 20 years, with 10 years experience running charters in Alaska and two decades off the Oregon Coast.
Limits of halibut caught aboard the Papa B in 2022.

Halibut trips are $275 a person. Combo trips, including halibut and rockfish, are $325 a person. Some of the halibut trips take place at the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse between Brookings and Crescent City.

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

Rockfish, lingcod targeted between storms

(BROOKINGS, Ore. – Feb. 15, 2023) – The new year has been off to a stormy start, as big swells, steep wind chop and overall rough conditions have kept charter boats on the Southern Oregon Coast at the docks. As the weather improves in late winter and early spring, expect good action for lingcod and rockfish.

The Brookings Fishing Charters fleet has run a handful of trips so far in 2023, with fishing only fair at best. Rough conditions and cold water has made the rockfish and lingcod more reluctant to bite. Generally, the better the weather, the better the fishing this time of year. As swells and seas subside, the rockfish and lingcod will aggressively feed, resulting in what can be wide open fishing.

Customers hold crab, rockfish and lingcod from a charter in January aboard the Miss Brooke.

During the winter months, lingcod move into shallow water to spawn. Large numbers of male lingcod, between 5 and 10 pounds, remain in shallow water to guard the nests of the spawning lingcod. The larger females, which can reach 30 to 40 pounds, quickly return to deep water, but while on their spawning run they are within range of sport anglers. During the most recent trips, the Miss Brooke caught limits of rockfish and a few lingcod, plus a few limits of Dungeness crab.

Crabbing has been decent this winter, and the Brookings Fishing Charters boats have dropped crab pots to check on the way back from the fishing grounds. The commercial crab season is now in full swing, reducing the number of crab available for anglers.

Local half-day and 6-plus-hour bottom fishing trips are available daily during the winter and early spring. The Point St. George Reef near the lighthouse opens to fishing May 15. This year, the Oregon limit for rockfish is five rockfish and two lingcod. Salmon dates will be adopted in April. Pacific halibut season opens May 1 out of Brookings.

A nice limit of lingcod caught aboard the Miss Brooke.

Our charter boats use light spinning tackle or light jigging rods to target rockfish and lingcod. Our six-pack boats are the fastest in the fleet, while larger groups, or people who like fishing on a larger party-style boat, can book trips aboard the 42-foot Nauti-Lady.

Catching rockfish three at a time aboard the Papa B in January.

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

Winter lingcod fishing yields trophies

BROOKINGS, Ore. (Jan. 14, 2023) – During the winter months, between storms, charter boats are able to venture out of the Port of Brookings for some of the best lingcod fishing of the entire year. From November through April, lingcod move into shallow water to spawn. The trophy-size females, which retreat to deep water during the summer, are briefly inshore, giving anglers a rare opportunity to catch them in shallow water.

Nice lingcod caught early last year aboard the Miss Brooke at Mack Arch. Some of the best lingcod fishing of the season takes place during the winter months.

Ocean conditions have been rough the past month. Gale warnings, swells to 20 feet, and huge breakers have kept the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet, and other boats, at the docks. But in late January and early February, there often is a window to get out and fish. Typically, the action is very good when boats can get out.

Stormy weather has kept charter boats at the docks the last few weeks.

Lingcod average 4 to 6 pounds. Fish to 10 pounds are common. But those really big fish, over 20 pounds, are most common during the winter months. In the summer, the large females hunker down in 200 to 400 feet of water, out of range of most sport boats. During spawning season, they make a quick trip to the shallow reefs, from 20 to 40 feet of water, to spawn and then return back to deep water. Smaller males stay behind to guard the nests. Often, half a dozen or more males will remain with each nest.

Capt. Andy holds a limit of lingcod for a customer aboard the Nauti-Lady.

State and federal biologists have determined lingcod populations are healthy and sustainable, so fishing them in the winter does not hurt the overall health of the fishery. Some anglers choose to release the large fish, but others want to take them home to eat. Lingcod are prized for their tasty fillets.

The Brookings Fishing Charters captains are among the most experienced lingcod fishermen in Brookings. Capt. Andy and Travis grew up in Brookings and have decades of experience fishing for them. Rye, Mick, Sam and Mike also have considerable experience fishing year round out of Brookings.

Mack Arch is a favorite winter lingcod spot. House Rock also is productive. The Point St. George Reef lighthouse is off limits during the winter, however, as California waters are closed until May 15.

Limits of lingcod are common during the winter.

Rockfish also are caught during winter time lingcod trips. Black, blue, canary, vermilion and yellowtail rockfish are all common out of Brookings. Limits of lingcod and rockfish are common during the winter months.

To learn more about winter time fishing, visit www.brookingsfishing.com or call (541) 813-1082.

Here is a video about winter time lingcod fishing with Brookings Fishing Charters. https://youtu.be/NwqAZNWL7Cw

Lingcod biting between storms

(BROOKINGS, Ore. – Dec. 23, 2022) — Rough weather has kept charter boats at the docks for most of November and December, but between storm, fishing has been very good for lingcod and rockfish off the coast of Brookings and at the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse.

The Brookings Fishing Charters crew has been running ocean charters as weather conditions allow this fall and winter, and also taking customers down the Chetco and Smith rivers for salmon and steelhead. Salmon fishing was well above average this year, with big returns to the coastal rivers, while steelhead fishing also is off to a good start.

Just before Christmas, the six-pack charter boats working out of the Brookings Fishing Charters office enjoyed good fishing for lingcod and rockfish on our local half-day trips, and on the long-range trips to the lighthouse. Rough weather, with big swells and strong winds, returned Christmas weekend.

Customers hold limits of lingcod from a fall trip to the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse aboard the Miss Brooke.

The lighthouse area, along with all California coastal waters, close to fishing Dec. 31, and reopens May 15. Based at the Port of Brookings year round, the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet will continue to run half-day and long-range targeted lingcod trips all year. During the winter months, lingcod come close to shore to spawn, putting them within easier range of the sport fleet. Lingcod fishing often is good during the winter, especially at Mack Arch and near House Rock out of Brookings.

A nice lingcod caught aboard the Miss Brooke this fall out of Brookings.

Unlike other six-pack charters that occasionally fish out of Brookings, our captains are local, full-time charter boat captains based out of the Port of Brookings, and our boats fish here year round. The knowledge and experience of our crew is unmatched for six-pack charters in Brookings. That experience pays off during the winter, when local knowledge often leads to bigger lingcod and a better grade of rockfish.

The Nauti-Lady fishing off of Brookings in the fall of 2022.

Aside from our six-pack boats, the Nauti-Lady also operates out of the Brookings Fishing Charters office. The Nauti-Lady can accommodate larger groups, and its spacious deck allows customers to fish with lots of room and plenty of space to spread out. The Nauti-Lady operates year round out of Brookings, weather permitting.

The Brookings Fishing Charters captains are also full-time fishing guides who operate drift boats trips on the Chetco and Smith rivers. To learn more about river fishing, visit www.wildriversfishing.com

Below are some of the winter steelhead caught on the Chetco River in December 2022 with Capt. Mick, Michael and Sam.

Halibut season opens May 1 out of Brookings. Ocean salmon seasons are set in April, although we will have a general idea of the season dates in March. Typically, ocean salmon opens in June and runs into August. Albacore tuna arrive in late July.

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

Tuna arrive off of Brookings

(BROOKINGS, Ore. – Aug. 15, 2022) – Albacore tuna moved within 40 miles of the coast of Brookings in late July and early August, giving charter boats an opportunity to make the long run offshore and target the prized gamefish. The Brookings Fishing Charters fleet ran several tuna charters in early August, returning with coolers full of albacore.

In late July, the Miss Brooke with Capt. Michael was the first boat to successfully find tuna out of Brookings. Fishing was slow however, with just a single tuna, caught 45 miles from the harbor. It was the first confirmed tuna brought back to the dock.

In early August, the water temperature warmed above 60 degrees offshore, and bigger numbers of tuna moved in. The Miss Brooke, Kraken and Dash returned to the tuna grounds, and ran successful charters, with upwards of 40 tuna caught on some of the trips.

Capt. Michael holds the first albacore tuna of the season caught out of Brookings. It was reeled in by Dave Kuen aboard the Miss Brooke in late July.

Charter boats out of Brookings wait for calm ocean conditions with no wind to make the 30- to 50-mile run to the tuna grounds. They look for water temperatures between 59 and 62 degrees. The tuna are caught by trolling feather jigs or PLine Tuna Rippers at a high speed, sometimes in excess of 8 mph.

Anglers hold some of the tuna they caught in August aboard the Kraken with Capt. Sam.
Some of the tuna caught aboard the Dash with Capt. Mick in early August.
A nice haul of tuna aboard the Miss Brooke with Capt. Michael.

Brookings Fishing Charters maintains a call list for its tuna trips. When weather conditions line up, and water temperatures reach 60 degrees offshore, trips are put together at short notice. The window to target tuna out of Brookings is usually fairly small.

Board a six-pack charter under the light of the moon for a 4 a.m. departure is a special experience.
An amazing sunrise while headed to the tuna grounds out of Brookings.
Deckhand Eric with a pair of nice albacore tuna.
Capt. Mick holds an albacore tuna caught aboard the Dash.
Frequent Brookings Fishing Charters customer Mike C. with a tuna from the Miss Brooke.
More tuna from the Miss Brooke in early August 2022.
The real work begins once the boats return to the dock.

To book a tuna trip, or get on our call list, call (541) 813-1082. For more information on tuna charters, visit Albacore Tuna Fishing Charters | Brookings Fishing

Mediterranean Baked Rockfish, Lingcod and Halibut

A fresh, delicious way to enjoy the Oregon Coast catch of the day, bursting with citrus flavor, easy to make, and a breeze to cleanup is Mediterranean Baked Rockfish, Lingcod and Halibut. This recipe is perfect for anyone seeking a healthy alternative to fish and chips, or those counting carbs. It is especially good after picking up fresh produce at the many farmers’ markets on the coast during the summer, or vegetables from your garden.

Mediterranean Baked Rockfish, Lingcod or Halibut is a great way to enjoy the catch of the day from the Oregon Coast.

Versatile, Mediterranean Baked Fish is equally good with rockfish, lingcod, halibut or even salmon, or a combination of them. The unique taste is worth baking up a few times each season, and may become a favorite way to enjoy the catch from our charter boats. Perfect with a side of rice, pasta salad or green salad.

Fresh vegetables make this a delicious and healthy alternative to fish and chips.

Mediterranean Sauce

Zest of 2 lemons

Juice from 2 lemons

1 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic

2 teaspoons dill weed

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon seasoned salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

3/4 teaspoon ground coriander

Fish and vegetables

1-2 pounds rockfish, lingcod or halibut fillets, sliced into thin pieces

1 pound cherry tomatoes

1 pound fresh green beans

1 large yellow onion, sliced into half moons

Also works well with sliced zucchini, sliced bell pepper and/or asparagus

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  2. In a bowl, combine lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, dill weed, oregano, coriander, salt and pepper. Whisk the ingredients together.
  3. In a large bowl, add the vegetables, coat with sauce and stir. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the vegetables to a large baking sheet. Layer half the baking sheet with a thin layer of the vegetables.
  4. Add the fish fillets to the bowl, mix well with the sauce, and transfer the fillets to the other half of the baking sheet. Pour any remaining sauce on the fish fillets and vegetables.
  5. Lightly season the fish and vegetables with salt and pepper, or lemon pepper, or seasoned salt.
  6. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes, then place on top rack of oven and broil for an additional 3 minutes, or until the cherry tomatoes begin to pop under the broiler.
Combine lemon juice and zest, olive oil, seasonings and herbs.
Add sliced vegetables to bowl, and stir in Mediterranean sauce.
After transferring vegetables to baking sheet, slice fish fillets, coat with sauce and add to baking sheet.
Pour remaining sauce over fish and vegetables. Bake for 15 minutes.
Finish off by broiling on top rack of oven for 3 minutes.
Mediterranean Baked Rockfish, Lingcod or Halibut.

To catch a limit of Oregon Coast rockfish or lingcod, book a charter with Brookings Fishing Charters, www.brookingsfishing.com

Lingcod action good in Brookings

BROOKINGS, Ore. (April 22, 2022) – Charter boats fishing out of the Port of Brookings Harbor on the Southern Oregon Coast are continuing to enjoy solid action for lingcod and rockfish, with limits of both on calm weather days. A winter-like storm sidelined the fleet this past week, but conditions have improved for the weekend. Before the storm, fishing was nearly wide-open.

Fishing has been good for lingcod and rockfish, as frequent customer Denise found out last week on the Miss Brooke.

Lingcod are in shallow water, allowing anglers to catch them on light tackle. In recent weeks, the Miss Brooke, Nauti-Lady, Kraken, Papa B, Bout Time and Dash, all working out of the Brookings Fishing Charters office, have been getting customers into limits. Most of the fish are being caught in shallow water, from 30 to 60 feet.

Capt. Mick sorts through limits of rockfish and lingcod aboard the Kraken.

Last weekend, the six-pack charters from Brookings Fishing Charters, got into a surface bite for rockfish at Mack Arch. The rockfish are just under the surface, feeding on small baitfish and crab spawn. They can be seen splashing on the surface, and are being caught by anglers casting small swimbaits or curly tail grubs fished with light jigheads. Since Brookings Fishing Charters boats are equipped with light spinning rods, it’s easy to switch gear and start casting when rockfish are spotted splashing at the surface.

The lingcod are biting large herring, or scampis fished with leadheads. One of the tricks of the Brookings Fishing Charters captains in targeting lingcod is using a paddle tail swimbait combined with a small strip of herring or squid. It has been a deadly combination in recent weeks for big lingcod.

Ocean salmon season opens June 18 for coho and June 25 for kings out of Brookings, and continues most of the summer. Pacific halibut season opens May 1, the same day Brookings Fishing Charters will begin running trips to the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse between Brookings and Crescent City. The lighthouse is known as a hot spot for trophy-size lingcod.

Late June and early July is peak season for salmon out of Brookings. Last summer, the Brookings Fishing Charters crew enjoyed the best catch rates for ocean salmon on the Southern Oregon Coast.

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

A limit of lingcod from the Miss Brooke.
Nice limits of lingcod and rockfish from the Papa B.
Full limits of lingcod in early April aboard the Miss Brooke.
The rockfish action has been fast and furious this month out of Brookings.
Frequent customer Barb with a nice lingcod and rockfish from the Miss Brooke.
Another nice limit of lingcod, this time from the Kraken.
A nice lingcod from the Bout Time.
A nice lingcod from the Kraken that fell for a swimbait and squid combination.
Lots of large rockfish have been keeping customers happy.
John with one of several lingcod he landed aboard the Kraken in April.
One of many lingcod caught last week on the Miss Brooke.
A lingcod from the Miss Brooke.
A nice vermilion rockfish from the Kraken at Mack Arch.
This nice lingcod was caught aboard the Miss Brooke.
Limits come fast when you double up on rockfish.
Capt. Mick with a nice lingcod from the Kraken.
A nice lingcod from the Kraken in early April.

Ocean salmon seasons approved!

The ocean salmon season out of Brookings will run June 18-Aug. 21, with coho-only the first week, and king salmon opening June 25. The season is similar to last year’s ocean salmon fishery out of the Port of Brookings-Harbor.

Limits of coho salmon last summer aboard the Miss Brooke of Brookings Fishing Charters.

The season opens during the period when catches historically are at their peak, as king salmon from the Sacramento, Klamath, Smith, Rogue, Chetco and other rivers all congregate near Brookings to feast on anchovies, herring and other bait fish. Anglers will be allowed to fish seven days a week out of Brookings once the season opens, and keep two salmon per day. Wild or hatchery kings can be kept, along with hatchery coho salmon.

A nice load of king salmon caught aboard the Miss Brooke last summer.

Forecasts are good for this summer’s season, and early indications show there are lots of fish off of Brookings. Charter boats already are encountering big numbers of king salmon while running bottom fish trips out of Brookings. There is an abundance of bait within close range of the harbor, with massive schools of herring, smelt, needlefish and anchovies already here.

Federal biologists estimate there are 1.3 million hatchery coho and nearly 850,000 adult king salmon from the Sacramento, Rogue and Klamath rivers off the Southern Oregon and Northern California coast this year. The coho numbers are above average, while the Sacramento forecast also is high.

Coho salmon caught out of Brookings and headed to the grill.
The finished product, delicious coho salmon caught with Brookings Fishing Charters.

Last summer, the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet enjoyed impressive catch rates all salmon season, with lots of limits of coho and kings. Some days when the coho fishing was hot, boats returned early with full limits and released big numbers of wild coho. The kings fishing was good from the opening day into mid-July last summer.

Brookings Fishing Charters captains are the most experienced ocean salmon guides on the Southern Oregon Coast. Using fast, comfortable six-pack boats, they quickly get to the fishing grounds, and use downriggers or divers to get anchovies or herring in front of feeding salmon. All of the captains are year-round fishing guides on both the river and ocean and experts at catching salmon. Many of the Brookings Fishing Charters captains also have extensive Alaska salmon guiding experience.

Limits of kings and coho from the Miss Brooke last summer.
More Brookings limits. Our crew enjoys the highest catch rates of any charter on the Southern Oregon Coast. Capt. Michael, left, and Capt. Travis, right, are two of the very best!

Ocean salmon trips are $200 a person and include all bait and tackle. Trips are 6-8 hours. Catch rates are generally highest in June and July. To book a trip, click here.

A hefty king salmon caught aboard the Miss Brooke last summer.