Brookings Oregon Fishing Charters Archives - Page 7 of 8

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.

Brookings enjoys stellar tuna season

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

**A nice load of tuna from the Dash in 2021.**

**Some of the great albacore tuna caught aboard the Papa B with Capt. Mike.**

**Customers hold some of the albacore tuna caught aboard the Miss Brooke during the summer of 2021.**

**One of many double hookups aboard the Nauti-Lady.**

**Family fun catching albacore aboard the Miss Brooke.**

**Another double aboard the Nauti-Lady.**

**Wheel barrels full of albacore tuna after a day of fishing aboard the Nauti-Lady.**

Fried oysters an Oregon Coast favorite

Aside from king salmon, Dungeness crab and big lingcod, the Oregon Coast also is known for its abundant oysters. While oysters cannot be harvested by sport anglers – they are actually private property that belong to oyster farms spread throughout the coast – they are readily available at seafood markets and grocery stores. Oyster farms are big business in places like Coos Bay, Newport and Tillamook Bay. Oregon oysters are known for their delicious flavor and freshness.

Fried oysters from the Oregon Coast are delicious.

Our favorite oyster recipe comes from Brookings Fishing Charters customer Dave Tappan of Redding, Calif. Dave is a popular radio personality in Northern California, and is also a chef extraordinaire. Dave often shares recipes on social media sites.

Oysters are grown in Coos Bay, Newport and Tillamook Bay.

Here is his delicious recipe for pan friend oysters:

Pan Fried Oysters with Tartar Sauce

For the Fried Oysters:
2 cups oysters, drained
2 large eggs, beaten
2 cups cornmeal
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups vegetable oil, for frying
Malt vinegar, for serving
Lemon wedges, for squeezing

For the Tartar Sauce:
1 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup dill relish, or finely chopped dill pickle
2 teaspoons capers, drained and chopped
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons lemon juice
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
2 green onions, chopped

Fry the Oysters
Pat the drained oysters dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel.
In a medium-sized bowl, beat the eggs.
Add the oysters to the egg bowl and set aside for 10 minutes.
In a medium bowl, combine the cornmeal, sugar, pepper, salt, Old Bay and flour.
Lift each oyster out of the egg mixture and allow the excess moisture to drip off before rolling them in the cornmeal mixture to evenly coat. Repeat the process with all oysters.
Pour about 3 inches of vegetable oil in a large, cast iron skillet, or whatever skillet you have. Place the pan over medium-high heat and bring it to a temperature of 370.
Carefully add the oysters to the hot oil. Do not overcrowd the pan.
Fry each batch of 6 to 8 oysters for about 2 to 4 minutes, or until they are golden brown.
Use a metal slotted spoon to remove the oysters to paper towels to drain. Reserve.

Make the Tartar Sauce
Gather the ingredients.
In a bowl, combine the mayonnaise with the dill relish, capers, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and black pepper. Mix well.
Add the green onions to the sauce and stir it into the mixture, or reserve the onion to garnish the finished oysters. Stir to blend thoroughly.
Serve the sauce alongside the fried oysters with the lemon wedges and malt vinegar, for dashing and enjoy.

Fresh oysters are delivered weekly to seafood markets up and down the Oregon Coast.

Dave Tappan of Redding is a popular radio host, chef extraordinaire and a customer of Brookings Fishing Charters.

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.

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.

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.

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.

First big storms arrive on coast

Fishing for lingcod and rockfish was very good off the coast of Brookings in recent weeks until the first major storm of the fall season arrived and forced boats to stay in port. Brookings Fishing Charters reported limits of rockfish and lingcod during its Point St. George Reef Lighthouse trips, and a good rockfish bite at the inshore reefs in early November before the storms hit. Rough weather is expected through November.

Some of the nice lingcod from the end of October at the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse aboard the Miss Brooke of Brookings Fishing Charters.

After relatively calm seas, large waves and winds to 50 mph hit the coast during the Friday the 13th storm. The Coast Guard closed the bar crossing to all recreational vessels.

Big swells and strong winds made the Chetco River bar too dangerous to cross on Nov. 13, 2020.

The first major storm arrived overnight on Nov. 13, with winds to 50 mph and waves over 15 feet high. Heavy rain also fell. A series of storms is expected over the next week.

At the Point St. George Reef lighthouse, fishing was wide open before the storms, with limits daily of large rockfish, including lunker canary and vermilion rockfish, and lingcod to 25 pounds. Lots of blue and black rockfish also were being caught.

Phil of Grass Valley holds a pair of lunker vermillion rockfish caught as part of a double hookup at the Point St. George Reef lighthouse.

Halibut season ended Oct. 31 on the Southern Oregon Coast. The Nauti-Lady and The Dash each ran successful trips at the end of the season, with halibut to 30 pounds.

A nice Pacific halibut caught aboard the Nauti-Lady on Oct. 30.

The variety and grade of rockfish out of Brookings has been good in recent weeks. There are also plenty of smaller rockfish that have been released in the shallow water. The Brookings Fishing Charters fleet uses light spinning rods to catch rockfish in shallow water.

A nice grade a variety of rockfish and lingcod aboard the Miss Brooke.

Limits of lingcod for Phil and Vince aboard the Miss Brooke.

Bruce with a trophy Point St. George Reef Lighthouse lingcod.

The Nauti-Lady fishing for halibut off of Brookings.

Limits of lingcod and rockfish caught aboard The Dash at the Point St. George Reef lighthouse.

A limit of Mack Arch lingcod aboard the Miss Brooke.

A big jig tricked this big lingcod at the lighthouse.

With stormy weather, the Smith and Chetco rivers are on the rise, kicking off the drift boat salmon season for the Brookings Fishing Charters crew. Capt. Andy, Travis, Rye, Mick, Shane, Rich and Michael are also drift boat guides during the fall and winter months.

To learn more about river trips, visit www.wildriversfishing.com. For ocean charters, visit www.brookingsfishing.com.

Ocean charters will resume as weather conditions allow. Lingcod and rockfish season is open year round out of Brookings, and May 1-Dec. 31 at the lighthouse and out of Crescent City.

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.