Tag: gold beach fishing charters

Albacore tuna, Pacific halibut, lingcod action heats up

BROOKINGS, Ore. (Aug. 6, 2023) – Two weeks of mostly nice ocean conditions resulted in some of the best fishing of the entire year to end July and begin August, as the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet enjoyed excellent catches of lingcod and rockfish at the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse. The first albacore tuna of the season also were caught last week, and offshore halibut action heated up.

Some of the albacore tuna caught last week aboard the Kraken out of Brookings.

Mid-summer is a premier time to fish out of Brookings, as good weather often results in good fishing. Limits of big rockfish and limits or near limits of lingcod have been common at the lighthouse. A few lingcod close to 30 pounds were caught in recent weeks, while plenty of 10- to 15-pounders and several over 20 pounds were brought in by Brookings Fishing Charters customers. Fishing at the lighthouse will continue through mid-October.

Capt. Andy holds an albacore tuna caught aboard the Nauti-Lady last week.
Some of the nice tuna caught aboard the Miss Brooke last week.

With calm ocean conditions, Brookings Fishing Charters sent its entire fleet out for albacore tuna last week. The office quickly put trips together based on the tuna call list (call 541-813-1082 to get on it), and nearly 30 customers were able to get out on the Miss Brooke, Kraken, Nauti-Lady, Papa B and Dash. It took a few hours to find the fish, then the action was wide open, with a 50-fish-per-boat average. Trolling tuna clones with rod and reel produced the best action, as the captains found 62-degree water offshore of Pistol River. The action was non-stop until the boats ran out of ice and cooler space for the tuna.

A few tuna from the Nauti-Lady last week.
Happy customers with their tuna catch from the Papa B last week.

More tuna trips are expected this week of weather conditions calm down as expected Wednesday and Thursday. Tuna charters are a 10- to 12-hour trip.

Limits of halibut caught in early August aboard the Dash.

Halibut action also improved again last week after a lull in mid-July. The Dash ran a trip over the weekend with full two-fish-per-person limits of Pacific halibut, with fish to 50 pounds caught. Calm weather this week is allow charters to get back offshore for halibut.

Oregon is now the only option for halibut fishing, as the Pacific halibut quota has been reached in California waters. Halibut season runs through October out of Brookings.

Trophy-size vermillion rockfish caught last week aboard the Miss Brooke.
A 29-pound lingcod caught aboard the Nauti-Lady at Mack Arch.
Limits of lingcod caught at the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse.

On local half-day bottom fishing charters, limits of rockfish are being caught, with fair action on lingcod. A 29-pound lingcod was caught last week aboard the Nauti-Lady at Mack Arch.

Fishing charters may be booked online at www.brookingsfishing.com, or by calling (541) 813-1082.

Here are a few more catch photos from the end of July and beginning of August.

Halibut show up, tuna on horizon

BROOKINGS, Ore. (July 4, 2023) – Lingcod and lunker rockfish have been biting at the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse – when the weather is calm enough to get there – while Pacific halibut action is heating up closer to the Port of Brookings. Albacore tuna, meanwhile, are almost within range of the sport fleet, with a pocket of warm water inching closer to the Oregon Coast.

The Brookings Fishing Charters fleet has been fishing daily, with good success on rockfish and lingcod when the ocean cooperates. Windy weather made fishing challenging the first week of July, but better ocean conditions are expected this coming weekend. Just before the windy weather, halibut catch rates improved. Coho salmon season also is open, but catches on the Southern Oregon Coast have been few and far between.

Limits of lingcod caught aboard the Miss Brooke in June near the lighthouse.

The best bet in recent weeks has been the Point St. George Reef near the historic lighthouse. The productive reef is halfway between Brookings and Crescent City. The best lingcod areas are closer to the lighthouse, where the Brookings charter fleet often returns with limits of both lingcod and lunker rockfish. The Crescent City charter fleet often focuses on South Reef, where rockfish are abundant, but lingcod have been less common this season.

Halibut caught aboard the Dash in late June in 180 feet of water off Brookings.

Halibut action started off slow out of Brookings when the season opened May 1, but catches have improved steadily. Charters in Brookings were averaging a fish per rod at the end of June. Halibut season continues through October. July, August and early September produce the best catch rates out of Brookings. Halibut are caught in 200 to 250 feet of water, 3 to 5 miles offshore. Unlike other areas of the coast, fairly light weights are used while fishing aboard charter boats in Brookings, with 12 ounces to 16 ounces usually enough lead to stay on the bottom.

Deckhand Chris holds a lingcod caught in late June aboard the Nauti-Lady.
Capt. Mick with a young angler’s first halibut.

During local half-day bottom fishing trips, the action has been fair, as windy weather and choppy seas have kept boats from more productive areas. With nice weather expected after the Fourth of July holiday, catch rates will improve for lingcod and rockfish as boaters can once again reach the Bird Island, House Rock and Mack Arch areas.

Albacore tuna water is a little more than 50 miles offshore, but as offshore winds subside, surface temperatures will increase and the bubble of warm water will move closer to shore. Tuna could be within 30 miles by mid-July. Brookings Fishing Charters operates off of a call list for tuna. When the forecast shows good weather conditions, the booking office will put trips together. Call (541) 813-1082 to be added to the call list.

Capt. Kirby holds a tiger rockfish caught aboard the Miss Brooke at the lighthouse.

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

Here are some catches from recent trips aboard the Miss Brooke, Kraken, Dash, Papa B and Nauti-Lady.

Huge lingcod, lots of salmon highlight July 4 off of Brookings

(BROOKINGS, Ore. – July 5, 2022) – There were plenty of fireworks off the coast of Brookings during the July 4 weekend, including some phenomenal catches for the Brookings Fishing Charters crew. Fishing for silver salmon was wide open at times, with our six-pack charter boats hooking 30 or more silvers a trip, and bringing in limits or near limits of salmon. Most of the keepers were hatchery coho salmon, but a few nice king salmon also were caught.

One of the highlights from the weekend was a massive 44-pound lingcod caught by Rod Allec of Happy Camp, Calif., while fishing near the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse aboard the Nauti-Lady on July 2. The giant lingcod was one of many big lings caught aboard the Brookings Fishing Charters boats over the July 4 weekend.

July is peak season for ocean salmon, and the catch rates soared over the holiday weekend. The season runs through mid-August, so there is still plenty of time to get in on the action aboard our productive six-pack charter boats.

Customers hold limits of hatchery coho salmon caught aboard the Miss Brooke with Capt. Sam on July 4, 2022. The group also released numerous wild coho and shaker kings.
Capt. Michael holds a nice king salmon caught aboard the Kraken.
Limits of salmon caught aboard the Dash with Capt. Mick.
Limits of salmon caught July 3 aboard the Kraken.
Deckhand Eric with some of the salmon and rockfish caught aboard the Kraken on July 4.
Nice catch of salmon from the Dash.

The best salmon fishing has been in 240 to 300 feet of water off the coast of Brookings. Our six-pack charter boats quickly and comfortably get to the fishing grounds. No rough, wet ride in a flat-bottom sled boat designed for river fishing. Our six-packs are equipped with twin outboard motors and have fully enclosed cabins, combining safety with fishability. Below are more great salmon catches from the July 4 weekend with Brookings Fishing Charters.

Lingcod fishing was very good over the weekend. Some giants were caught at the Point St. George Reef during our long-range trips, but plenty of big lingcod also were caught closer to the Port of Brookings. The biggest lingcod, Rod Allec’s 44-poiunder, was caught during an exciting day aboard the Nauti-Lady, when Capt. Andy found several groups of big lings. Allec’s trophy was part of a triple-hookup, when three big lings were hooked at the same time.

Nauti-Lady deckhand Eric holds a massive 44-pound, 45-inch
Three big lingcod were hooked at the same time aboard the Nauti-Lady on July 2. The day ended with a pile of lingcod on the boat.
Deckhand Eric shows off a couple of monster lings to visitors at the crabbing dock in Brookings.

Our local half-day bottom fishing trips also produced nice limits of rockfish and plenty of big lings. We also caught a few Pacific halibut and petrale sold over the weekend. Here are just a few of the great bottom fishing catches aboard the Nauti-Lady, Miss Brooke, Kraken, Papa B, Dash and Bout Time during the July 4 weekend.

We hope to begin albacore tuna charters out of Brookings soon.

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

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.

Back on the water, back on the bite

Our charters are back in operation after the temporary shut down caused by the stay-home orders, and when the weather cooperates, fishing has been very good. We have five six-pack boats running daily, as the weather allows, and they have been finding a very good grade of rockfish and lingcod up to 18 pounds. Recent trips have produced a variety of rockfish, with large canaries, quillbacks, coppers, Chinas, blacks, blues and vermillions. Lots of color!

Anglers hold lingcod and rockfish caught in mid-May 2020 aboard the Miss Brooke of Brookings Fishing Charters.
Michael, a deckhand on the Miss Brooke, holds a large copper rockfish caught in May 2020.
Nice lingcod and rockfish caught in May 2020 aboard the Miss Brooke of Brookings Fishing Charters.

May has been fairly stormy, so the boats have only gone out a handful of times since social distancing measures were eased. We are glad to report the motels and RV parks in the Brookings area have re-opened, and customers can once again dine inside of restaurants.

The size of the black rockfish has been excellent this month.
The schools of rockfish have been thick this season, with a very nice grade. We are catching them three at a time!
The crab spawn began in early May, sending rockfish to the surface to gorge on the small crustaceans. We’ve enjoyed wide-open surface action at times.

In early May, the crab spawn began. Tiny crabs float toward the surface, drawing up rockfish from deeper water. The rockfish can be seen splashing at the surface, giving us an opportunity to cast small jigheads and grubs for a wide-open topwater bite. This surface action, which is a unique thrill with light tackle, should last into early June. We are using ultra-light spinning rods to get in on the surface action.

A nice lingcod caught aboard the Miss Brooke on a jig.
The grade of rockfish has been excellent in May 2020.
Anglers of all ages enjoy light-tackle rockfish action,
Young anglers are always welcome aboard our charters.

The ocean salmon season opens June 20. The forecast for the Sacramento and Rogue rivers is strong, which should lead to good numbers of kings feeding on anchovies off the coast of Brookings this summer. We troll for the salmon with anchovies or herring. Late June and July are peak season.

The Dash off the coast of Brookings. We operate six-pack charters, meaning we have small groups, and are able to get to the fishing grounds very quickly.

We are now up to full crew, with five six-pack boats in the water. Capt. Travis and Michael are on the Miss Brooke, Capt. Andy has his 26-foot guide sled in the water, with comfortable seating for six anglers, Capt. Mike is on the Papa B, Capt. Rye and Capt. Mick are running The Dash, and Capt. Rich is on the Bout Time. Capt. Sam also is helping out this season. Michael, who has been a great deckhand, will be finishing his captain’s license course in July. The class was delayed because of the stay-home orders. We look forward to having him run a boat as well.

A nice lingcod caught aboard the Miss Brooke.

To book a trip, visit www.brookingsfishing.com for online bookings 24/7. You also can call our office at (541) 813-1082.

Lingcod and rockfish caught aboard the ‘Bout Time in mid-May 2020.