Tag: brookings fishing reports

Halibut, Salmon and Lingcod: Brookings Trek Turns Up Trifecta

BY RICH HOLLAND/Western Outdoor News. BROOKINGS, Ore. – Fires raged both sides of the border, the delta variant was on the move and the wind was blowing a gale along the southern Oregon coast, yet nothing was going stop a group of four anglers from a week of fishing planned six months earlier.

The crew with halibut caught in August 2021 aboard the Nauti-Lady.

The plan? To use the growing fleet of Andy Martin’s Brookings Fishing Charters to maximize whatever opportunities the waterways and coast from Gold Beach to Crescent City could offer the first week of August. The list of possibilities is long: king salmon, silver salmon, Pacific halibut, California halibut, rockfish, lingcod and albacore.

Martin’s cooperation and flexibility were both necessary and outstanding. It was he who suggested that we book Monday, Wednesday and Friday, leaving as much room for adapting to conditions as possible.

As luck would have it, conditions were excellent when we arrived, dead calm under the protection of Chetco Point. A slight change in the forecast noted that while Cape Blanco to Gold Beach was under a gale warning, the area from Brookings south would be variable 5 to 10 knots with fog and overcast.

Patrick Bird fishes aboard the Miss Brooke near the Point St. George Lighthouse.

“It’s looking good for the Lighthouse tomorrow morning, so make sure you have both your California and Oregon licenses,” said Martin when we called to check in Sunday. “Since we are leaving from and returning to Oregon, we will be under Oregon regulations as far as our catch.”

Brookings Fishing Charters is right across from the launch ramp boat lot and is both office and tackle store. After we paid up, it was a short drive to D Dock where the Miss Brooke, a 29-foot Kingfisher aluminum with twin 150 outboards, was tied up and Andy and Michael McGahan were ready to go at 6 a.m.

Limits of lingcod aboard the Miss Brooke near the lighthouse.

“It’s a little windy and bumpy this morning but it is going to lay down all day,” said Martin as he steered for the St. George Reef Lighthouse. As we neared and the spire came into view, as well as islands and basaltic outcroppings, he also told the story of the hundreds who died in a shipwreck just after the Civil War, resulting in the construction of the costliest lighthouse ever built in US waters.

Wind with current meant a quick drift despite the braking of the kicker motor, so even in the shallow water it was hard to feel the bottom. Some heavier heads induced a steady inpouring of beefy black rockfish to come aboard. Then Steve Holland caught the first lingcod of the morning, followed quickly by Paul Freese. Both sported the blueish tint occasionally seen on lings.

A trophy vermillion rockfish caught by Rich Holland.

The size of the black rockfish increased as the drift improved with the weather, and canary, yellowtail, copper, china and yelloweye rockfish all found the lures. The last three had to be released under Oregon regulations. The yelloweye were huge and at first gave the impression of being a big lingcod.

Except the big lings gave a much better impression when hooked – besides the ones that fought all the way to the top, a couple almost spooled Steve and Patrick Bird before finding it back to the rocks.

With a slot or two left for some big rockfish, it was time to move the drifts to Martin’s best big lingcod spot for the last of the lings needed for the two fish per person limits. While no monsters were landed Patrick scored the biggest ling of the day when it hitchhiked aboard via a small rockfish, while this writer connected with a beauty of a vermilion rockfish.

Patrick and Capt. Michael with a hitchhiking lingcod.

“The weather is going to keep getting better every day,” said Martin, “Wednesday could be the best.”

Tuesday was beautiful and with the opportunity to move farther offshore, and while we hiked and golfed, some boats got into both silver and king salmon. Yet the good conditions had Capt. Martin leaning in a different direction for our Wednesday run.

“Our boats that have been trying have been getting at least one good halibut a day up to 50 pounds, even in the rough water,” he noted. “I think we’ll take the big boat out and I bet we can do better than that. We also catch a lot of big petrale sole, and they are great eating.”

Fresh salmon guts tricked this halibut aboard the Nauti-Lady.

As a result, we were out on the 41-foot Nauti-Lady early Wednesday morning sliding through the smooth windswell and fog out to one of Martin’s favorite spots for Pacific halibut.

“We have to wait for the halibut to pick up our scent and find us,” Martin pointed out as Ron baited double circle hook rigs with squid and herring and Andy set up rods for sand dabs and petrale sole. “Once the sand dabs really start biting, the halibut show up at this spot.”

Brent Foster, who sold his house after surviving the Paradise fire and moved to Brookings, was also aboard and he was the first to hook up with a flattie. Not long after a 24-pound halibut was flopping on the deck.

A long time passed without a bite, then the few that came were light. The sound of nearby humpback whales spouting whooshed through the fog. Every now and then the dense mist would lift and other boats would appear and disappear.

Capt. Andy holds a nice Pacific halibut.

Salmon started to jump around the boat and at times when the fog lifted we would watch a boat net a salmon. Then a call came in from Michael on the Miss Brooke – his group was limited out on king salmon to 35 pounds by 9 a.m.

Believe me, it was getting a little hard to bear!

Andy asked Michael to come by and drop off the salmon guts for bait and we got to see the big king held up by the happy angler. Then when the bait went on the hooks, the halibut started to climb on ours. Patrick broke the ice with a 15 pounder, the Paul landed a 28-pound flattie. We missed a few other bites and decked a handful of big petrale sole to make for plenty of meat to go around.

Big schools of rockfish at the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse.

All of the Brookings Fishing Charter boats and most of the other boats out Wednesday had whacked both kings and silvers. It should be noted lots of wild silvers and shaker (short) kings were released.

When Andy asked if we would like to go salmon fishing the next day (Thursday) it was probably one of the quickest times I ever said yes.

We were back out on the Miss Brooke with Michael and Travis at the wheel and on deck Thursday and a breeze was up and the ceiling of grey was well overhead. It was a chunky ride out to the fishing grounds of the day before.

Limits of salmon aboard the Miss Brooke.

“I’m not marking any bait – the krill was everywhere yesterday – there are hardly any birds and I don’t see any whales, but let’s put the rods out and look around,” Michael said. “Keep an eye out for whales, all of our fish yesterday were on whales.”

Was the day after hex going to take hold?

A handful of bites, two small silvers released and a decent sized hatchery silver boated later, well off the port bow two massive humpbacks twisted back into the water in a massive splash.

“Pull in the gear, we’re going to run for them,” said the skipper. “If we troll to the whales we’ll get there too late.”

Rich Holland with a big king.

We got there in time all right – so close we could smell the stench of the leviathans’ breath, so close we had to pull back the throttle and steer clear of the big fellas while we put out lures and baits in the slime of their feeding frenzy.

Instantaneous action doesn’t describe what followed, it was a scramble for one bent rod after another, with the inevitable misses and the satisfying runs of a solid hookup intertwined.

At first a lot of the kings were small. Travis dropped the Brad’s Lures fished on divers off the stern to 100 feet back and the keeper kings latched on. For whatever reason the anchovy baits fished tight on the inside at 25 feet also started to pick up more quality.

Whenever the bite slowed at all or the size dropped off, we ran towards the next whale. By 7:55 a.m. we had our 2-fish limits each of kings and silvers, mostly kings. We had dodged the “should have been here yesterday” jinx and done even better.

From the beach the next morning we could see the fog lay heavy. Word was only a rare keeper made it in the box. Later the fog gave way to a mid-afternoon gale. The weather had cleared again as of this writing (Aug. 11) and the boats were into the albacore offshore.

Next time.

For more information on fishing out of Brookings, go to Brookings Fishing Charters at brookingsfishing.com or phone (541) 813-1082.

Trip Info

Location and Recreation

Brookings/Brookings Harbor is located just north of the California border on Hwy. 101. There are many motels and vacation rentals available. We stayed Ocean Suites Motel. Accommodations can also be found to the south in Crescent City. The Chetco River bar is the mouth of Brookings Harbor. The Rogue River in Gold Beach is an hour away and the Smith River in California is 20 minutes south. The spectacular redwoods of Jed Smith State Park line the Smith and Harris Ranch and Lone Ranch State Beaches are just north of Brookings. Salmon Run golf course is on the Chetco and Del Norte golf course is adjacent to the Smith.

Dining

From seafood to steaks, breakfast to burgers and brew pubs, there are lots of options: Alta’s Burger Bar (Smith River), Hiouchi Café (Smith River) Catalyst Seafood, Slug N Stone Ice Cream, Pacific Sushi, Bean and Whistle Coffee Bar, Zola’s Pizza, Wild River Pizza, SuperFly, O’Hollerans Steaks, Mattie’s Pancake House, Chetco Brewing, Misty Mountain Brewing, and Seaquake Brewing (Crescent City). A Fred Meyer has all your shopping needs.

https://wonews.com/halibut-salmon-and-lingcod-brookings-trek-turns-up-trifecta/

Grilled lingcod simple and delicious

Lingcod are one of the most delicious fish caught on our charters. Known for their firm, tasty fillets, lingcod are most often pan fried or deep fried. The fillets also are great when grilled. Here is a favorite grilled lingcod recipe from Capt, Andy that is incredibly simple, yet delicious. The recipe also works great for rockfish and halibut.

Grilled lingcod is simple and delicious.

Ingredients

Lingcod fillets

olive or vegetable oil

lemon pepper

salt

salted butted

fresh lemon

Preheat your grill to 350-375 degrees. To make cleanup simple, add a sheet of aluminum foil with a small amount of cooking oil to prevent lingcod from sticking to the foil.

The combination of butter and lemon pepper give the lingcod a delicious flavor.

Generously season the lingcod fillets with lemon pepper and sea salt. You may want to add a little garlic as well. Top each fillet with a slice of butter.

The melting butter keeps the fillets firm and moist.

Cook the fillets for 8 to 10 minutes without turning. Thicker fillets may take longer. The fish is done when the inside has an opaque color and the fillets easily flake apart.

The fillets are done in 8 to 10 minutes.

Serve the fillets with a squeeze of fresh lemon.

Grilled lingcod or rockfish also make excellent fish tacos. Add homemade pico de gallo and a combination of shredded cabbage and crema. Serve with flour or corn tortillas.

Grilled lingcod or rockfish make great fish tacos.
Homemade pico is a key ingredient.
Make a Mexican crema sauce by combining mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, Sriracha and garlic powder.
Combine the cabbage and crema sauce.
Grilled lingcod tacos!
Lingcod are fun to catch and taste great.

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

Big lings, rockfish caught during lighthouse fishing charters

Our trips to the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse, located offshore between Brookings and Crescent City, have been a huge hit with our customers. During recent trips this fall, in between storms, we have been catching limits of nice rockfish, and a very nice grade of lingcod. Anglers often see a wide variety of rockfish during these trips, with black, blue, canary, vermilion, China, copper, quillback and even tiger rockfish.

A happy angler holds a big lingcod caught in late November 2021 aboard the Miss Brooke.

During a period of nice weather in late November, we were able to run several trips to the lighthouse area aboard our six pack boats, including the Miss Brooke and Bout Time. During the fall months, lingcod fishing is often wide open at the lighthouse, and aside from limits, large numbers of keeper-size lingcod are also released.

We target the big lingcod with large jigs. As is often the case when hunting trophy-size fish, the bigger the bait, the bigger the fish.

An angler holds a tiger rockfish caught near the lighthouse.

One of the main draws of the lighthouse is the fast action, and wide variety. With each fish that comes up, anglers don’t know if it will be a cabezon, large rockfish, lingcod or even a halibut. The massive schools of fish at the Point St. George Reef are unmatched and rival the quality fishing in remote parts of Alaska.

Limits of rockfish caught at the Point St. George Reef while fishing aboard the Miss Brooke.

The lighthouse itself is located 11 miles south of the Chetco River jetties. Our charter boats fish near the lighthouse, or travel further south to fish near the Dragon Channel, Great Break, East Break and other productive parts of the reef.

Similar to our other charters, we start out with light spinning tackle to catch rockfish, usually fishing as shallow water as possible. It is easer to release rockfish in shallow water. If they are caught in deeper water, we will use a descending device to get the rockfish safely back to the bottom, deceasing release mortality of these prized fish.

An angler holds a trophy vermilion rockfish and a keeper-size lingcod from a recent lighthouse trip.

To fish the lighthouse area, the Brookings Fishing Charters boats are licensed in Oregon and California. We depart the Port of Brookings, in Oregon, but fish in California waters. Our boats have a California Commercial Passenger Vessel License and each angler must have a California sport fishing license. One-day licenses are available for $17. The fish are landed in Oregon, so an Oregon license also is required. The extraordinary fishing near the lighthouse makes the extra charter licenses, and angler licenses worthwhile, with unmatched fishing and the potential for trophy size fish.

The historic Point St. George Reef Lighthouse is home to some of the best lingcod and rockfish action on the entire West Coast.

The lighthouse area is open May-December. The rest of the year, we focus on other hot spots, such as Mack Arch, House Rock and the productive reefs close to the Port of Brookings Harbor.

Our charter boat captains have extensive experience fishing near the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse. Capt. Mick and Capt. Sam both grew up in Crescent City, and have been fishing the lighthouse area their entire life. Mick used to fish commercially near the Point St. George Reef, but now works year round, full time as a charter boat captain and fishing guide. Capt. Andy and Capt. Travis grew up in Brookings, and also have decades of experience fishing local waters, including the lighthouse area. Capt. Rye, Capt. Rich and Capt. Michael also have extensive experience fishing the lighthouse. Each captain has their own “hot spots,” and our charter crew is in constant communication with each other to make sure each boat is on the bite.

An average-size lingcod from the lighthouse area.

New for 2022, we will be offering combination lighthouse and ocean salmon trips during the month of June. We also offer halibut and lighthouse trip combos in June and September. Depth restrictions limit the halibut combos other times of the year.

The Point St. George Reef and lighthouse are a fascinating part of local history. The lighthouse was built in 1892 after several tragic shipwrecks in the Point St. George Reef. Towering 146 feet above the ocean, the lighthouse can be seen from Brookings and Crescent City. The reef is part of what was named “Dragon Rocks” by Sir Francis Drake. On July 30, 1865, during a gale, the 220-foot Brother Jonathan, carrying 244 passengers, struck the reef and sank. Only 19 people survived. A fortune in gold went down with the ship. Most of the gold is said to still be at the bottom of the ocean near the lighthouse, although a fisherman claimed to have caught 22 pounds of gold bars in his net in the 1930s. The sinking of the Brother Jonathan played a key role in the decision to build the lighthouse on Northwest Seal Rock.

The lighthouse cost $752,000 to construct in 1892, equivalent to $22 million today, making it the most expensive lighthouse ever built in the United States. The lighthouse was major construction feat. Several people died during construction and more were killed while serving at lightkeepers.

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

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.

Rockfish and Sausage Stew

While fish tacos and fish and chips have long been a favorite way to enjoy the tasty rockfish caught aboard our fishing charters, Rockfish and Sausage Stew is a delicious meal that is great any time of the year. This recipe is easy, quick, and will leave your family or guests wanting a second helping. It also is friendly to low-carb and keto diets.

Rockfish and Sausage Stew can be prepared from fresh or frozen rockfish. Other white-fleshed fish fillets, including lingcod, halibut or Pacific cod can be used. Great on a cold, stormy winter day with fish from the freezer, or on those cool, foggy Oregon Coast summer evenings.

Rockfish and Sausage Stew is a delicious way to enjoy Oregon Coast rockfish.

Ingredients

2 tbsp. butter or olive oil

6 oz. cooked andouille sausage, sliced

2 small leeks, white and light green portions, sliced

1 fennel bulb, chopped

2 garlic cloves, chopped

2 tbsp. parsley, chopped

2 bay leaves

1/3 cup white wine

1 can (28 oz.) diced tomatoes

2 bottles (8 oz, each) clam juice

3 cups water

1 lb. rockfish fillets, boneless and skinless, cut into small pieces

1/2 lb. Oregon pink shrimp meat, or peeled and deveined medium shrimp

salt and pepper to taste

Cut a pound of rockfish fillets into small pieces, about 1 square inch each. The fillets of two or three rockfish is all that is needed for this recipe.

In a large pot, heat the olive oil or butter, and add sliced sausage, leeks and fennel. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add garlic and bay leaves. Add white wine and cook for 2 minutes.

Add tomatoes and increase heat to medium high. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Add clam juice and 3 cups water. Bring to a boil, and add pieces of rockfish. Cook 4 minutes. Add shrimp meat.

Cook for 2 to 3 more minutes, discard bay leaf, stir in parsley, and season to taste with salt and pepper.

The finished stew will have you coming back for seconds.

To catch a limit of rockfish to make Rockfish and Sausage Stew, or any of our other great seafood recipes, book a Brookings fishing charter at www.brookingsfishing.com

Salmon action heats up in Brookings

The best ocean salmon fishing in more than seven years is happing in Brookings this summer, as big schools of anchovies are attracting impressive numbers of kings and coho just outside of the harbor.

The charter boats working out of the Brookings Fishing Charters office have regularly been catching limits or near limits of salmon. While some days have been slow, the overall king salmon fishing this season has been well above average. Salmon to 25 pounds are being caught.

The salmon being caught out of Brookings this summer are nice-size kings.

Salmon season opened June 12 out of Brookings. Only hatchery coho salmon could be kept the first week. King season opened June 19. Both wild and hatchery kings and hatchery coho may be kept through mid August. The coho season will run through late August.

The first week of the season, fishing was wide open for silver salmon, which are also known as coho salmon. The Miss Brooke, Bout Time and Dash were getting limits nearly every day, while also releasing lots of kings. As soon as the king season opened, limits of near limits were being caught, with the salmon in close, feeding on thick schools of bait.

Limits of coho salmon caught aboard the Miss Brooke the first week of the season out of Brookings.

Windy weather has kept sport boats away from an area commonly known as “Salmon Ally.” Instead, anglers have been forced to fish closer to the buoys. Despite the wind, overall fishing has been good. Even better action is expected the second half of July as boaters can get offshore again during periods of nicer weather.

A nice catch of kings from the Miss Brooke in late June 2021.

Salmon have been biting anchovies or herring trolled close to the surface behind divers and Fish Flash flashers. Since the Brookings Fishing Charters captains are year-round fishing guides, working on the ocean charters during the spring and summer and local rivers during the fall and winter, they are all accomplished salmon anglers. Capts. Travis Sallander, Michael McGahan, Rich Singnorello, Andy Martin, Sam Stover, Mick Thomas, Rye Phillips and Mike Brouillette are among the best salmon captains on the Oregon Coast, with extensive experience fishing out of Brookings, in Alaska and off of Northern California. The six-pack boats are equipped with trolling motors to get the precise speed salmon like. They also can fish in tight quarters, as the hot bite often draws a crowd of boats (which usually follow the charters as they steadily pick away at the salmon).

Capt. Michael shows a chrome-bright king salmon caught off of Brookings in June.

The limit is two salmon per day. Kings must be at least 24 inches. Wild coho must be released, but wild or hatchery kings, and hatchery coho, may be kept. Most of the coho are bound for the Columbia River, where a near-record return is expected this fall. The king salmon, meanwhile, are primarily Sacramento River, Feather River, American River, Klamath River, Trinity River and Rogue River fall Chinook salmon.

A beautiful king salmon caught out of Brookings aboard the Miss Brooke.
Nice king salmon caught in July aboard the Miss Brooke.
A hefty king salmon caught on the guide sled with Capt. Sam.
Anglers of all ages are enjoying the great salmon fishing off of Brookings this summer.
Limits of kings and coho caught aboard the guide sled with Capt. Sam.
A bunch of nice kings caught on the guide sled
A perfect king salmon caught aboard The Dash with Capt. Mick.
A great catch of kings and coho from the Miss Brooke.
A very nice king caught aboard The Dash with Capt. Mick.
Salmon from the Miss Brooke in late June.
The guide sled has been a hot boat this season out of Brookings.
Limits of coho salmon from mid-June aboard the Miss Brooke.
These are big kings for early July.

Brookings Fishing Charters offers salmon trips daily aboard its six-pack charter boats. Bottom fishing trips also are offered on the Nauti-Lady and the six-packs not booked for salmon.

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

Cioppino great way to enjoy rockfish, crab

One of the most delicious ways to enjoy Oregon Coast rockfish and crab is in a bowl of cioppino, a seafood stew with a rich history on the Pacific coastline.

Cioppino originated with the Italian immigrants in the San Francisco Bay area in the late 1800s. From its humble beginnings, the tomato- and wine-based seafood stew is now one of the most popular dishes at restaurants on Fishermen’s Warf and throughout the West Coast. Traditional cioppino takes hours to prepare, first by making fish stock, and then simmering with Italian seasonings, wine, tomatoes and a variety of seafood.

Cioppino features fish and shellfish, and is delicious when served with warm bread.

Capt. Andy of Brookings Fishing Charters uses a simple yet delicious recipe for cioppino that is great all year, from stormy winter days to warm summer evenings. It can be made with fresh or frozen seafood and shellfish and utilizes pieces of fish simmered in chicken broth and wine instead of fish stock.

Oregon Coast crab and rockfish make cioppino even better!

Originally, cioppino was made with the catch of the day by San Francisco fishermen. When fishermen come back without catching anything, they would walk the docks with a pot, asking fellow fishers to donate whatever they could spare. A rockfish here, a few clams there, perhaps a crab or mussel. Fishermen who chipped in part of their catch knew they could count on fish in return if they came back with empty nets or lines. As the Italian immigrants perfected the seafood stew, they began selling it at restaurants in San Francisco, and then beyond, eventually making it a staple at seafood and Italian eateries on the West Coast.

Capt. Andy’s favorite cioppino recipe is a delicious combination of local crab and fish, with shrimp meat, clams and Italian seasonings.

A simple and tasty recipe for cioppino uses cut up fish fillets, canned clams, shrimp, chicken broth, onions, parsley, garlic, white wine, canned tomatoes and, if available, crab and other seafood.

1-2 onions, chopped

Minced garlic

Fresh parsley, chopped

1 cube butter

2 cans (14.5 ounces each) stewed or diced tomatoes

2 cans (14.5 ounces each) chicken broth

1-2 cups white or red wine

1 cup water

2-3 tablespoons Italian seasoning (dried oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, sage, marjoram)

Salt, pepper and garlic salt to taste

1-2 pounds rockfish or cod, cut into small pieces

1-2 pounds shrimp (cocktail and/or large peeled and deveined shrimp)

1-2 cans (6.5 ounces each) chopped or diced clams

Crab meat or cooked and cleaned crab halves

Cook onions, garlic and parsley over medium heat in a large pot.

Cook chopped onions, garlic and parsley in a large pot over medium heat with melted butter. Stir frequently, cooking until onions are soft.

Add two cans of stewed or diced tomatoes.
Add chicken broth, wine, water and Italian seasonings.

Add canned tomatoes, chicken broth, Italian seasonings, wine and water. Bring to a boil. Add salt, pepper and garlic salt to taste.

Adding cut up fish fillets and canned clams to the broth and then simmering for a couple hours gives the stew a delicious seafood flavor.

Add 1 pound of chopped fish fillets (half of the fish to be used in the stew) and cans of clams with juice. Cover and simmer for at least 30 minutes, and up to two hours. As the fish simmers, it will flake into smaller pieces, adding flavor to the stew.

Add shrimp meat and crab just before serving.

Just before serving, adding shrimp meat and crab legs and/or crab meat. Also add the remaining rockfish pieces. Cook over medium low heat until the rockfish is done, usually about five minutes. If desired, add more salt, pepper, Italian seasonings and garlic salt to taste.

Serve with warm bread.

Many cioppino recipes call for whole, raw clams and mussels, and scallops, but these can be difficult to find year round, especially away from the coast, so Capt. Andy uses the canned clams instead, but whole shellfish, if available, can be added and cooked. Warm Italian bread goes well with cioppino, especially when dipped into the stew. The stew also can be served over cooked rice.

Just a couple of rockfish are all that’s needed to make a large pot of cioppino. A limit of rockfish yields plenty of fillets for fish and chips, rockfish chowder, and a pot f cioppino.

To catch a limit of rockfish to make cioppino, fish and chips or rockfish chowder, visit www.brookingsfishing.com for information on ocean charters out of Brookings, Oregon.

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.

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.