Tag: Brookings lingcod fishing

Halibut, lighthouse seasons May 1!

Two of the most anticipated seasons of the year for the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet open May 1, when charter boats can begin fishing for Pacific halibut out of Brookings, and also start running trips to the highly productive Point St. George Reef and lighthouse.

Brookings Fishing Charters operates both trips aboard its fast, comfortable six-pack charter boats, as well as the spacious Nauti-Lady party boat. The lighthouse is known for its fish-after-fish action, with the potential for trophy lingcod and rockfish, while halibut are one of the most prized fish on the West Coast.

Halibut season opens May 1 out of Brookings. These halibut were caught last summer aboard the Nauti-Lady.

Halibut season out of the Port of Brookings-Harbor runs May 1-Oct. 31, or until 8,000 pounds of halibut are landed out of Brookings and Gold Beach. The quota generally lasts the entire season. Anglers may keep one Pacific halibut a day, with no size limit. Sanddabs and petrale sole also may be kept on halibut trips.

In recent years, the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet has been the most successful group of charters on the far Southern Oregon Coast getting customers into halibut. Captains Andy, Travis and Rye have considerable Alaska halibut charter boat experience, and have decades of experience catching halibut out of Brookings. Capt. Michael and Mick also are local halibut experts with a reputation of catching lots of fish each season.

A Pacific halibut caught and released earlier this year aboard the Papa B. The season opens May 1.

Halibut generally run 15 to 25 pounds on the Oregon Coast, with fish over 75 pounds caught each season. Two years ago, Capt. Rye got a client into a halibut just under 100 pounds, one of the largest halibut ever landed by a charter in Brookings.

Anglers wanting to catch halibut out of Brookings will immediately notice the skill level of the Brookings Fishing Charters captains in finding and catching halibut. Using advanced techniques to anchor in deep water, the captains create a potent scent trail to bring halibut to the area they are fishing, using a variety of big baits, scents, and combinations of smaller baits. Through trial and error, and years of halibut fishing experience in local waters, the Brookings Fishing Charters captains have an extensive list of waypoints that produce halibut season after season, and the knowledge of when to fish each spot, depending on tides, ocean conditions and time of the season.

Limits of halibut last summer aboard the Dash.
Typical halibut caught out of Brookings.

Most of the halibut fishing out of Brookings takes place in 180 to 250 feet of water, much shallower than the halibut hot spots further north on the Oregon Coast. Because of the shallower water, and the advantage of fishing on anchor, lighter weights may be used. Instead of 3 or 4 pounds of weight, we often catch halibut with just 12 ounces, which makes catching them more enjoyable.

Capt. Rye holds a 58-inch halibut caught during a previous season aboard the Dash.

The Point St. George Reef Lighthouse is located 11 miles straight out of Brookings just across the border in California. The reef is highly productive, with a large variety of rockfish, and some of the largest lingcod caught outside of Alaska. The area opens to fishing May 1.

Limits of lingcod caught aboard the Nauti-Lady at the lighthouse.

Several of the boats in the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet have California Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessel permits, allowing them to fish in Oregon and California waters. Customers need a fishing license for both states to fish the lighthouse area. One-day licenses are available.

A hefty lingcod caught last season aboard the Bout Time at the lighthouse.

Few private boats venture to the remote Point St. George Reef Lighthouse, located between Brookings, Oregon and Crescent City, California, making it one of the most productive fishing destinations on the West Coast. The seldom-fished waters on the edge of the Point St. George Reef marine reserve offer unmatched lingcod and rockfish opportunities, often with much larger fish than the closer-in waters out of Brookings and Crescent City.  The area of the reef with the best fishing is known locally as the “Dragon Channel” a lingcod and trophy rockfish infested section of rockpiles, pinnacles and ledges. Swift currents, sudden depth changes, and an extremely rugged undersea terrain provide ideal habitat for big rockfish and lingcod, with an occasional halibut mixed in. Oldtimers tell stories of lingcod between 50 and 70 pounds, and each season plenty of trophy lings are caught. 

Another big lighthouse lingcod.

The action is fast-paced at the lighthouse, with black, canary, vermilion, yellowtail, tiger, blue, copper and China rockfish, among others. Lingcod to 50 pounds are caught each year at the lighthouse, with fish over 20 pounds common. Most of the keepers are 10 to 15 pounds, an ideal size to eat.

The Miss Brooke, Kraken, Dash and Bout Time get to the lighthouse quickly, and use light tackle to catch the trophy-size lingcod and rockfish. Customers who have done the trip comment on what a blast it is to catch the variety of quality rockfish with light spinning tackle.

Full limits of lingcod at the lighthouse aboard the Miss Brooke.

For larger groups, the Nauti-Lady allows up to 15 people a chance to experience the lighthouse fishing on a single boat. The comfortable ride to and from the lighthouse on the Nauti-Lady makes the experience even more enjoyable, with plenty of room to spread out on the 42-foot charter boat.

Capt. Andy holds a pair of tiger rockfish caught aboard the Nauti-Lady last summer.
A triple hookup in front of the Point St. George Reef lighthouse.

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

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.

Nauti-Lady customers catching big lings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Brookings lingcod action phenomenal

Lingcod action is usually the best of the season in early spring, as the big fish come into shallow water to spawn, and this year has been nothing short of phenomenal.

Over the weekend, Brookings Fishing Charters sent four boats out, and each returned on Sunday with full limits of rockfish and lingcod. The lingcod action was so good, the six-pack boats actually released more lingcod than they kept after limiting out. They had limits of lings well before they had limits of rockfish. The Nauti-Lady, on its half-day bottom fishing trip, also limited every customer on lingcod and rockfish.

A limit of lingcod aboard the Nauti-Lady on March 31, 2021.

As a general rule, the better the weather, the better the fishing this time of year. That has been true, as we’ve been getting full limits on calm days, and limits of rockfish and some lingcod when it is rough and windy. Charters are now running daily, weather permitting.

Limits of lingcod in late March at Mack Arch.

Most of the lingcod are being caught in shallow water, from 30 to 60 feet. The lings are biting flutter jigs, shrimp flies, Farallon Feathers, small grubs and twin-tail scampies. The grade of rockfish has been good, with a nice mix of black, blue, canary, China, vermilion, copper and quill back rockfish.

We are running the 6-plus hour targeted lingcod trips on the six-pack boats, and usually fishing around House Rock or Mack Arch. The Nauti-Lady, our larger party boat, is focusing on the 4-5 hour half day bottom fishing trips, and has had good success limits on rockfish and lings when the weather cooperates.

A boat limit of lings and rockfish for the Nauti-Lady.
Nice lingcod caught aboard the Miss Brooke at Mack Arch.
Limits of rockfish and lingcod for the Papa B.
More Mack Arch lingcod.
Good lingcod action on the Miss Brooke.
Catching a limit of lingcod at Mack Arch is a trip to remember.
Really nice vermilion from the Nauti-Lady.
A nice limit of lingcod from the Nauti-Lady.
Our six-pack charter boats are the fastest charters in the fleet, and will get you to and from the fishing grounds quickly and safely.
Limits of lingcod aboard the Miss Brooke.
Capt. Michael gaffs a lingcod aboard the Nauti-Lady in front of Bird Island.
This young angler not only caught her first lingcod aboard the Nauti-Lady, she caught her limit!
Nice lingcod to start the day on the Nauti-Lady.
Quality lingcod and rockfish aboard the Nauti-Lady.
Nice keeper lingcod from the Nauti-Lady.
Our half-day bottom fishing trips are ideal for young anglers. Lots of action, beautiful scenery, and good eats afterward.

We will be focusing on lingcod and rockfish in April. In May, there are lots of new fishing opportunities. We will begin the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse trips in May, when California waters open, and also begin Pacific halibut trips in May. The halibut season out of Brookings runs May. 1-Oct. 31. Brookings Fishing Charters had the best overall catch rate of any charter out of Brookings last year, as its captains have decades of halibut fishing experience in Oregon and Alaska. The best halibut fishing takes place in July and August, but we had success as soon as the season opened last year.

Ocean salmon season dates will be announced in mid-April. The season could open as early as the end of May, or by mid-June. Late June and July are peak season. Our captains are salmon fishing experts and have a high success rate of getting customers into nice kings. This year we also we be able to target coho, or silver salmon, increasing the likelihood of limits.

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

41-footer expands Brookings charter fleet

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trips aboard the Nauti-Lady will soon be available.

Lighthouse trips a hit with customers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.