2019 Oregon Coast Lingcod, Rockfish Seasons Begin

Big swells and strong winds have kept anglers at port for much of the new year, but for a few days in early January, the ocean was calm enough to venture offshore and get in on the hot winter lingcod and rockfish bite.
Capt. Andy of Brookings Fishing Charters took the Miss Brooke to the House Rock area on New Year's Day, with easy limits of big rockfish for six anglers and more than a lingcod per person. After an initial stop in the shallow kelp beds, which only produced smaller rockfish, Capt. Andy headed to deeper water and got the crew into non-stop action on large black and canary rockfish in 110 to 120 feet of water. After getting everyone's limits, the Miss Brooke returned to shallow water to fish large herring for lingcod.

Anglers hold two of the limits of lingcod caught Jan. 1 aboard the Miss Brooke of Brookings Fishing Charters while fishing on Jan. 1, 2019, out of Brookings.

The lingcod fishing was not as hot as the the first trip of 2018, but several anglers limited out and everyone caught at least one lingcod. The fish ranged from 6 to 14 pounds.

Frequent Brookings Fishing Charters customer Glen Thil of Shady Cove, Ore., holds three rockfish caught as part of a triple hookup during the first charter boat trip of the year on Jan. 1.

Capt. Andy said the grade of rockfish was really good for the first trips of the year, with large blacks, large blues and some nice-size canary rockfish. There also are big numbers of smaller rockfish in the kelp beds, a positive sign for future seasons.

Some of the big canary rockfish caught Jan. 1 aboard the Miss Brooke.

For 2019, the rockfish and lingcod regulations will remain nearly identical to 2018. Anglers can keep two lingcod a day at least 22 inches long. There is no annual limit on lingcod. The daily rockfish limit is five rockfish a day, with any combination of blacks, blues, canaries, Chinas, vermilions, quillbacks, coppers and kelp greenling.

Brookings Fishing Charters offers year-round charter boat trips out of Brookings. Visit www.brookingsfishing.com or call (541) 813-1082 to book a trip.