Tag: brookings fishing reports

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.

Spring weather results in awesome fishing off of Brookings

Lingcod have moved into shallow water, rockfish are actively feeding and for the most part fishing has been outstanding in recent weeks out of the Port of Brookings Harbor. The charter boat fleet from Brookings Fishing Charters has been enjoying limits of rockfish and limits or near limits of lingcod on most trips. Simply put, the fishing has been awesome.

Anglers hold limits of lingcod caught in March 2022 aboard the Miss Brooke.

Our charter boats are now able to get out almost every day of the week, thanks to lighter winds in the morning and smaller ocean swells. On calm weather days, lingcod fishing has been fantastic. During rougher weather, we are still getting limits of rockfish and a few lingcod.

The best fishing has been in the House Rock and Twin Rocks area, where we have been able to fish several days a week. On rougher days, our charters are catching fish near Chetco Point and Aiken Point to the south of the harbor.

With lingcod in shallow water, our charters are using the light spinning rods to catch both rockfish and lingcod. The shallow water, light-tackle action makes for an ocean bottom fishing trip to remember.

A hefty lingcod caught in March 2022 with light tackle aboard the Miss Brooke.

Currently, half-day bottom fishing trips are $125 a person, and the longer targeted lingcod trips are $150 a person.

Book online at www.brookingsfishing.com or call our office at (541) 813-1082.

Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of having Craig Reed from the Roseburg News Review on the Miss Brooke. Check out his article and photos here: Bottom fish feed the industry off Southern Oregon Coast | Outdoors | nrtoday.com

A nice limit of lingcod from the Miss Brooke.
All smiles catching rockfish on light tackle aboard the Nauti-Lady.
Another set of limits from the Miss Brooke.
A nice double of big black snapper aboard the Miss Brooke.
Nice limit of lingcod from the Kraken in March 2022.
How’s this for a first-time lingcod fishing?
Check out this great limit of lingcod from the Miss Brooke during Spring Break 2022.

Lingcod action heats up

Lingcod fishing has busted wide open out of Brookings, with limits or near limits during calm weather days. Limits of rockfish also are being caught.

With nice weather to begin the month of March, the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet was able to run trips several days, getting limits of rockfish on each trip, and nice catches of lingcod. On trips to Mack Arch, limits of lingcod have been the norm.

A nice limit of lingcod caught in March aboard the Miss Brooke.
A pair of big canary rockfish caught aboard the Miss Brooke.
A young angler with a big lingcod caught on the Kraken.
More Miss Brooke lingcod.

The biggest storm in nearly two months hit the coast the second week of March, keeping boats at the docks. Better weather days are already showing up in the forecast.

During most trips, there has been an excellent grade of rockfish, with big blue and black rockfish, plus an assortment of canary, vermilion, China and copper rockfish. The lingcod are running 5 to 12 pounds, with a fish on most trips topping 15 pounds and an occasional lingcod to 20 pounds.

A nice halibut caught and released in March aboard the Papa B.

Sport halibut season opens May 1. The first halibut of the year was caught and released over the weekend by a customer aboard the Papa B. They were targeting lingcod near Mack Arch.

A big lingcod caught aboard the Nauti-Lady in March 2022.
Another nice Nauti-Lady lingcod.
A limit of lingcod from the Kraken in March 2022.

The 2022 ocean salmon season will be set in early April. The season will likely begin in late June and continue through July. Anglers are expected to be able to keep hatchery coho and wild or hatchery king salmon.

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

A lingcod double header aboard the Miss Brooke.
A nice Miss Brooke lingcod from March 2022.
Limits of lingcod caught in March at Mack Arch on the Miss Brooke.
A double hookup of black and canary rockfish.
The Kraken in action in March near Chetco Point.

Winter lingcod, rockfish action good when weather cooperates

Unseasonably nice weather, with calm winds and small swells, has allowed charter boats to venture out of the Port of Brookings Harbor throughout February, resulting in great catches of rockfish and lingcod. On nice weather days, limits of rockfish, and limits or near limits of lingcod are being caught.

The Brookings Fishing Charters fleet ran several trips in February, with the Miss Brooke, Kraken, Nauti-Lady, Papa B, Dash and Bout Time getting in on the action. The local charter fleet has been running two to three trips a week.

A nice catch of lingcod aboard the Miss Brooke in February 2020.

Lingcod are in shallow water spawning during the winter and early spring. With large numbers of fish staging on shallow pinnacles this time of year, they are in close range of anglers hoping to catch them with light tackle.

Lingcod caught aboard the Nauti-Lady in February 2020.
A nice catch of lingcod caught aboard the Dash in February 2020.
More lingcod caught on the Miss Brooke.
A double hookup of rockfish from the Nauti-Lady.
One of many lingcod caught aboard the Nauti-Lady in February.
Nice first lingcod for a young angler aboard the Nauti-Lady.
Cabezon must be released until July. We have been seeing good numbers of them.
A limit of lingcod from the Nauti-Lady.
A happy angler with a lingcod from the Miss Brooke.
A large canary rockfish caught aboard the Kraken.
Capt. Andy holds a limit of lingcod caught by regular customer Dennis aboard the Nauti-Lady.

March began with rough weather, with the first major storm since early January. Charters will run throughout March as conditions allow.

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

2022 charter season off to great start

Unusually calm weather has allowed the Brookings Fishing Charters to run numerous ocean charters in January and February. So far this year, fishing has been great for lingcod and rockfish. Big schools of rockfish are being found in the close-in reefs near the harbor, and to the north from Chetco Point to Bird Island, Twin Rocks, House Rock and Mack Arch.

Each of the Brookings Fishing Charters boats – the Miss Brooke, Nauti-Lady, Kraken, Papa B, Dash and Bout Time – have run numerous trips. Limits of rockfish have been the norm, and lingcod fishing appears to be above average so far this season. A 25-pound lingcod caught aboard the Miss Brooke with Capt. Travis in early February is the largest so far this season.

Nice limits of lingcod caught aboard the Miss Brooke near Mack Arch.
A nice lingcod caught aboard the Nauti-Lady near Bird Island.
Happy customers aboard the Nauti-Lady.

With the calm weather, boats have been able to get up to Mack Arch, where there are plenty of large lingcod. Limits have been likely near Mack Arch.

Frequent customer John with a nice lingcod from the Miss Brooke.
More lingcod from the Mack Arch area.

The rockfish population has been thriving near Brookings. We are seeing large schools of black, blue and canary rockfish. The grade has been excellent. Anglers have been able to release smaller rockfish and focus on larger fish for their limits. Since our boats specialize in shallow water with light tackle, the fish are not injured as they are reeled up from the bottom. It is more difficult to release rockfish caught in 80 feet of water or more, but our charters often fish in 40 to 60 feet of water, or shallower.

A nice lingcod and very nice canary rockfish from the Miss Brooke.
A black rockfish and a blue rockfish caught aboard the Papa B.
Another double hookup on the Nauti-Lady.
It’s a triple! the rockfish action has been fast and furious so far this season.

On recent charters, our customers have caught a release numerous king salmon. The ocean salmon season won’t open until May or early June, but the abundance of salmon in the ocean right now near Brookings is a great sign. These are likely feeder kings that will return to the Klamath or Sacramento rivers. When they stack up near Brookings during the winter, they are usually still around by the time opening day arrives.

One of many salmon caught and released this winter during bottom fishing charters.
Frequent customer Vince with a nice lingcod aboard the Miss Brooke.
You’d be smiling too if you just caught a nice vermilion rockfish.
Deckhand Brent with a copper and quillback rockfish. The quillback was released, while coppers may be retained.
Nice lingcod from the Miss Brooke near Mack Arch.
Great catches from our first charter of the season on the Miss Brooke.
Capt. Mike fillets rockfish after a successful charter on the Papa B.
A big ling and a lunker rockfish make for a very happy young customer.
Rockfish are a blast on the light spinning tackle we use on all of our charter boats.
The Miss Brooke has been successful at finding nice lingcod on each charter so far this season.

The Brookings Fishing Charters fleets runs charters daily, weather permitting. Our six-pack boats are fast and perfect for smaller groups. Families and larger groups love the comfortable ride of the spacious Nauti-Lady, our 42-foot party boat.

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