Tag: lingcod

Trophy lingcod highlight great ocean fishing in 2025

BROOKINGS, Ore. (Jan. 1, 2026) – Giant lingcod, surprise halibut, lots of colorful vermillion rockfish and the best sport crabbing in recent memory highlighted the 2025 ocean fishing seasons off of Brookings. The impressive lingcod action, with numerous fish over 40 pounds caught on our charter boats this season, coincides with a growing lingcod population that has prompted the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to increase the daily limit to three lings in 2026.

Nauti-Lady deckhand Eric holds a trophy lingcod caught at Point St. George Reef during the 2025 season.
A 40-plus pound lingcod caught at Mack Arch aboard the Miss Brooke with Capt. Chris and deckhand Eric. It was one of more than a dozen 40-plus-pounders caught in 2025 from our charter boats.

Lingcod action started off great last year, and was steady the entire season. The Nauti-Lady, Kraken, Miss Brooke and Dash returned from charters with numerous lingcod over 30 pounds and the most over 40 pounds we’ve seen in one season. The best lingcod fishing was at Point St. George Reef, but big lings were also common at Mack Arch, and plenty of big fish were caught closer to the harbor between Bird Island and House Rock.

The lighthouse area also yielded several surprise Pacific halibut for our charter boats in 2025 while customers were jigging for lingcod and rockfish.

Frequent Brookings Fishing Charters customer Barb with her personal best lingcod caught in 2025 aboard the Miss Brooke.
Capt. Andy holds a trophy vermillion rockfish caught near House Rock aboard the Nauti-Lady, one of numerous trophy vermillion caught in 2025 on our charter boats.

Lingcod fishing ended the year on a high note, and expectations are high for continued above-average lingcod fishing in 2026. Winter is a good time to catch lingcod, as they move into shallow water to spawn. Big numerous of aggressive males, and the larger females stage in 20 to 60 feet of water from December through April to spawn, making winter and early spring the best time to catch lings in shallow water. Unlike rockfish, lingcod grow quickly, reaching maturity in just a couple of years. The prolific species is thriving off the Oregon Coast, with high populations to fuel a sustainable sport fishery.

Brookings Fishing Charters captains and deckhands are among the best lingcod guides on the entire West Coast, using techniques perfected in Alaska for targeting lingcod and incorporating them to our local fisheries. Capt. Andy and Capt. Rye both spent a decade apiece running charters for halibut and lingcod in Alaska before focusing their full-time, year-round efforts to the Oregon Coast.

A large lingcod and a surprise halibut caught aboard the Nauti-Lady at Point St. George Reef.

Sport crabbing was good throughout the year, with the best fishing in mid-summer and fall, as the commercial season ended, and again in December. We will be running more crabbing charters in 2026, with the arrival of the Umatilla II, which is equipped with a hydraulic crab block and has dozens of commercial-size pots for charter use.

The Umatilla II’s hydraulic crab block will give Brookings Fishing Charters customers even more crabbing opportunities in 2026.
Another giant lingcod caught aboard the Nauti-Lady in 2025.

Lingcod charters run daily, year-round, as the weather allows. To book a trip, call (541) 813-1082 or book online at www.brookingsfishing.com.

Here are a few more of the trophy lingcod and rockfish caught aboard our charter boats in 2025.

Winter charter trips bring back lingcod, rockfish and crab, while steelhead arrive in local rivers

BROOKINGS, Ore. (Feb. 22, 2025) – Limits of rockfish, lots of lingcod and a few Dungeness crab to end the day have made for exciting winter charter boat trips out of Brookings so far this winter, with good fishing on the nice weather days between storms. Chrome-bright steelhead, meanwhile, are entering local rivers, giving anglers plenty of options for February and March fishing trips.

Ocean lingcod and rockfish action has been above average so far this winter, with more lingcod than recent years in January and February. Steelhead fishing, on the other hand, has been slower than expected coastwide, with just a couple steelhead per boat on most days.

Customers with limits of lingcod aboard the Miss Brooke in February 2025.

The Miss Brooke, Nauti-Lady and Papa B have been running ocean charters as the weather allows between storms. The rockfish action has been hot, with lots of smaller fish released and a good grade for limits. Lingcod also are biting aggressively, with limits typical on the longer 6-plus-hour trips, and a fish or rod or better on the shorter 4-hour trips. On long-range trips to Mack Arch, the lingcod bite has been wide open, with limits and plenty of smaller lingcod released, as well as some larger breeders let go as well.

A large steelhead caught with Capt. Andy on the Chetco River in February 2025.

Steelhead fishing will remain a solid option well into March. Our ocean charter boat captains are also river guides, and fish out of drift boats during the fall and winter when the ocean is too rough to fish. They use light spinning tackle to drift tiny clusters of roe for steelhead. The scenic floats down the Chetco and Smith rivers are memorable, and the hard-fighting steelhead are among the most prized an angler can catch.

A limit of lingcod from the Miss Brooke in January 2025.

During the winter months, lingcod move into shallow water to spawn. Big numbers of fish congregate over rockpiles in 20 to 50 feet of water. Many of the lingcod are caught on typical rockfish gear, but once limits of rockfish are caught, our captains switch over to larger jigs and bigger baits to specifically target lingcod. The catch rate of the Brookings Fishing Charters crew speaks for itself – our captains have a well-earned reputation for catching quality rockfish and lots of lingcod using light tackle in shallow water.

Capt. Andy with a pair of nice lingcod caught aboard the Nauti-Lady in February 2025.
Deckhand Eric with a pair of lingcod caught aboard the Miss Brooke in January 2025.

Ocean fishing is open year round out of the Port of Brookings, which also has the safest bar crossing on the Oregon Coast. Our crew is ready to fish each time there is a break in the weather and it is safe to get out and fish for lingcod and rockfish. Trips are available aboard the Nauti-Lady, our 42-foot boat, as well as the 30-foot six-pack charter boats Miss Brooke, Kraken, Papa B and Dash.

The Nauti-Lady hovers of a big school of rockfish near House Rock in January 2025.

Ocean salmon dates will be announced in April 2025. Pacific halibut season opens May 1. The highly anticipated season at Point St. George Reef Lighthouse also opens May 1. Albacore tuna trips are offered in July, August and September, once the fish get within 30 miles of the coastline.

Here are some of the recent lingcod and rockfish catches aboard our charter boats out of Brookings.

Steelhead season closes March 31 on the Chetco, and April 30 on the Smith. Spring king salmon action runs mid-March through June. To book an ocean charter or spring king salmon trip, call (541) 813-1082. Learn more about ocean charters at www.brookingsfishing.com. Learn about river trips at www.wildriversfishing.com.

Here are some recent steelhead catches with our river guides.

Lighthouse area opens with hot lingcod action

BROOKINGS, Ore. (May 5, 2024) – Big lingcod, lunker rockfish, and fast action has been the result of the first few trips of the season to the famed Point St. George Reef Lighthouse, which re-opened to anglers on May 1 after being closed since last August.

Located 11 miles straight out from the Port of Brookings jetties, the lighthouse area is home to some of the best lingcod and rockfish action outside of Alaska. Fishing is open inside the 20 fathom (120 feet) curve all summer. Thriving rockfish and lingcod populations, and the chance at halibut and a colorful variety of fish, make the lighthouse area a favorite destination.

An angler holds a trophy vermillion rockfish caught on opening day at Point St. George Reef aboard the Miss Brooke.

The Miss Brooke ran the first trip of the season to the lighthouse area, and despite rough weather, got easy limits of rockfish and a bunch of lingcod. Windy, stormy weather kept boats away the second day of the season, while fishing was absolutely light’s out the next day, with limits of jumbo rockfish and full limits of quality lingcod. Trophy vermillion and copper rockfish were included in the catch.

A nice lingcod from Point St. George Reef aboard the Miss Brooke.

The lighthouse area is located halfway between Brookings and Crescent City, with excellent lingcod fishing on the section of reef closest to Brookings. Each year, lingcod over 40 pounds are caught at the reef, with numerous 20-plus pounders. The average size is between 8 and 10 pounds. The rockfish variety is unmatched, with abundant black, blue, copper, vermillion, tiger, yellowtail, widow and canary rockfish. Quillback and yelloweye rockfish also are plentiful at Point St. George Reef, but must be released.

A quick limit of lingcod near the lighthouse aboard the Miss Brooke.

The reef is a world-class light-tackle fishery, and the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet uses light spinning rods to target the big rockfish in shallow water, with heavier gear on board if needed, to switch over to lingcod-specific baits and lures.

Closer to Brookings, the Brookings Fishing Charters fleet has been getting limits of quality rockfish on its local half-day trips, with lots of lingcod mixed in. Rockfish action has been very good, with jumbo black and blue rockfish making up the majority of the catch.

A big lingcod caught close to Brookings on a half-day fishing charter.
A nice lingcod aboard the Papa B on a local half-day charter out of Brookings.

Pacific halibut season also is open, with the best fishing out of Brookings in late June, July and August. Halibut migrate in from deep water to feed, and return to depths of 2,000 feet or more in the late fall and winter to spawn in the Gulf of Alaska.

Ocean salmon season opens May 16 out of Brookings. The season runs through August, with a two-king-salmon-per-day limit. Wild or hatchery kings may be kept. Coho salmon may be kept starting in mid-June. The Brookings Fishing Charters fleet has been encountering salmon during its bottom fishing trips, while pelicans have already arrived in Brookings to feed on anchovies and other baitfish. All are good signs for the approaching ocean salmon season.

Many of the Brookings Fishing Charters customers spend the afternoon before their charter, or the following morning targeting surfperch from the beaches around Brookings. Surfperch action has been very good. Anglers use small hooks, light weights, and shrimp or sandworms to catch surfperch with light spinning rods. The mouth of the Winchuck, Crissy Field State Park, Lone Ranch, Chetco Point, and Chetco River jetties are all good surfperch locations. The crew at the Brookings Fishing Charters booking office, the same location as Brookings Bait and Tackle, will help anglers rig up for surfperch and point them in the right direction.

Capt. Mick holds a chrome-bright spring king salmon from the Lower Rogue River.

Spring king salmon continue to be caught on the lower Rogue River. Capt. Mick and Capt. Rye have been running trips, anchoring and fishing anchovies in the slower water as the prized springers move upstream. Spring salmon fishing continues into early June, while the busy Rogue Bay salmon fishery is best in July and August.

Here are some of the great catches from the first few trips to Point St. George Reef.

Nice limits of lingcod caught aboard the Miss Brooke at Point St. George Reef.

Here are some great catches from our local half-day fishing charters this past week.

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

Brookings lingcod, rockfish opener yields limits

The 2018 lingcod and rockfish season got off to a great start out of the Port of Brookings, with quick limits of lingcod, as well as a nice variety of snapper and rock cod.

Customers of Brookings Fishing Charters holds limits of lingcod caught Jan. 1 aboard the Miss Brooke.

The Oregon bottom fishing season opened Jan. 1. With calm weather the first week of January, Brookings Fishing Charters ran two boats on Jan. 1 and 2 and the Miss Brooke ran another trip Jan. 7. Each trip produced limits of nice lingcod and plenty of rockfish.
Rough weather returned the second week of January. Gale-force winds and big swells have kept boats at port since.
During the opener, lingcod fishing was especially good near Bird Island. Both Brookings Fishing Charters boats caught limits of lings using twin-tail scampies, flutter jigs and whole herring.

Scott Hood of Chico, Calif., holds a tropjhy-size brown rockfish.

On Jan. 2, one of the Brookings Fishing Charters customers caught a brown rockfish that may have been a contender for the world record. Since brown rockfish are unusual out of Brookings, the crew was unaware the world record was only 4 pounds. Scott Hood of Chico, Calif., caught a brown that likely weighed between 5 and 6 pounds.

Regular customers of Brookings Fishing Charters, Liz Brown and Glen Thill of Medford, hold one of several lingcod they caught during the Jan. 1 opener aboard the Miss Brooke.

Limits of lingcod from Jan. 2.

Capt. Travis got this family from Reno into a nice limit of lingcod Jan. 2.

We will continue ocean charters in February as ocean conditions allow. To book, call 541-813-1082 or visit www.brookingsfishing.com.