Tag: Point St. George lingcod

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.

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.

New lighthouse fishing trips offered

Brookings Fishing Charters is pleased to announce it is now offering long-range fishing trips to the Point St. George Reef and Point St. George Lighthouse, where the average size of rockfish and lingcod is often much larger than waters closer to the harbor, the action is usually fast and furious, and the experience of fishing in the historic area is something anglers won’t soon forget.

Customers hold lingcod and rockfish caught in early August aboard the Miss Brooke near the Point St. George Reef Lighthouse between Brookings and Crescent City.

Capt. Andy Martin, owner of Brookings Fishing Charters LLC, said he decided to begin offering the lighthouse trips as part of his company’s commitment to provide the best fishing opportunities possible out of Brookings. “The Point St. George Reef has some of the most prolific rockfish and lingcod populations in our region,” Martin said. “It offers the best chance at a trophy lingcod, trophy vermilion or canary, and trophy yelloweyes. The reef is full of life, and such an amazing place to fish.” The ability to fish near the lighthouse required a substantial investment by the Brookings Fishing Charters vessel owners for permits and licenses. The reef is located across the state line in Northern California, requiring out-of-state commercial fishing vessel licenses and commercial passengers fishing vessel permits for charter boat operators.

Anglers aboard the Miss Brooke enjoy a triple hookup of lingcod and rockfish a short distance from the Point St. George Lighthouse.

The lighthouse is approximately 11 miles from Brookings, almost straight out from the harbor. The reef and best fishing is a little further, in what is known locally as the “Dragon Channel,” a lingcod and trophy rockfish infested area of the reef. Swift currents, sudden depth changes, and an extremely rugged undersea terrain provide ideal habitat for big rockfish and lingcod. Oldtimers tell stories of lingcod between 50 and 70 pounds, and each season plenty of trophy lings are caught.

Lingcod are abundant near the Point St. George Reef lighthouse.

To fish the lighthouse area from Brookings, anglers must possess Oregon and California fishing licenses. The fish are caught in California, but landed in Oregon. Only a limit legal in Oregon can be landed in Brookings, so the limit is seven rockfish and two lingcod. Because they are caught in California, only four black rockfish and three canaries can be part of each limit. “Fortunately there are a lot of large vermilion in the area,” Martin said. “The canaries also are huge compared to what or normally caught closer to Brookings.” Boat operators must use caution to keep their vessels outside of marine protected areas, or “reserves” while fishing. Skilled navigation also is required for fishing in the minefield of wash rocks and other dangers near the reef and lighthouse.

Lunker yelloweye rockfish are common near the lighthouse. These fish must be released. This angler caught two at a time on a two-hook rig. The fish were safely released with a descending device.

Lighthouse trips are offered on the Miss Brooke with Capt. Travis, Capt. Andy and Capt. Michael, and The Dash with Capt. Mick and Capt. Rye. All are local captains with substantial time fishing local waters. Capt. Andy and Capt. Travis grew up fishing the local area, while Capt. Mick for years operated his own commercial fishing vessel fishing for lingcod and rockfish near the lighthouse out of the Crescent City Harbor. The captains also fish the Smith River and Chetco River during the fall and winters for salmon and steelhead, and are intimately familiar with the history and heritage of the lighthouse and local waterways.

The historic Point St. George Reef lighthouse, as seen from the Miss Brooke.

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.

A nice lingcod caught at the Point St. George Reef.

Trips to the lighthouse are limited to calm days because of the lengthy open-water crossing. Because of the distance, the trips are eight hours. Cost for the exclusive trips are $200. Few charter boats make the trips to the lighthouse. Previously, tourists would pay $200 just for a boat ride to see the lighthouse. The Brookings Fishing Charters long-range trip combines a scenic voyage to the lighthouse and an incredible fishing adventure.

“Fishing near the lighthouse is comparable to the trips I used to take customers to in the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound when I used to run charter in Seward, Alaska, and Glacier Bay, Alaska,” Martin said. “It is a world-class fishery, and Brookings is the ideal harbor to visit it from.”

To book a trip, call (541) 813-1082.