Ocean salmon, rockfish and lingcod charters

Brookings, Oregon, has long been known as one of the premier saltwater fishing destinations on the West Coast. Located next to major feeding grounds of king salmon and silver salmon, and home of abundant lingcod and rockfish populations, Brookings is one of the few yer-round sportfishing ports between San Francisco and Alaska.

Safe bar crossing, close in fishing

One of the biggest advantages of fishing out of Brookings is the safe crossing from the mouth of the river to the Pacific Ocean. Most ports and harbors on the West Coast have moderate to rough bar crossings, as big swells and waves stack up at the mouth of the river and create large breakers than can be hazardous to boaters. The Chetco River bar, at the Port of Brookings Harbor, is touted as the safest bar crossing in Oregon. Brookings sits in a protected bay that faces south instead of west, so the port doesn't get a direct hit from the westerly swell.

Anglers also don't have to travel far to catch fish. It's not uncommon to see salmon caught between the tips of the jetties and the first buoy. Lingcod and black and blue rockfish, also known as sea bass or snapper, are caught from the mouth of the river and out all directions.

Brookings also has productive year round fishing. Most harbors in Oregon and Northern California are too rough to fish out of during the fall and winter. With the protected bar crossing and close in fishing, Brookings is the premier saltwater fishing destination on the Oregon Coast.