Lingcod biting as rough weather stalls salmon opener (May 3, 2015)

Strong northwest winds kept anglers in close during the May 1 salmon opener out of the Port of Brookings, forcing many anglers to focus on rockfish and lingcod instead. The weather was even rougher out of Crescent City, Gold Beach and Eureka, were most boats were forced to remain at the docks.
We ran charters on Friday and Saturday, the first two days of the salmon season (which opened May 1), and since heavy seas prevented us from staying close to the harbor we jigged for bottom fish and were able to catch full limits of lingcod and rockfish. The biggest surprise was catching the same quality lingcod within view of the jetties that were were running clear up to Bird Island and House Rock to catch a week ago. The lingcod fishing out of Brookings continues to be great.
As soon as the winds ease off, possibly as early as Monday, we will go further out to begin trolling for kings, Typically, the salmon are further offshore early in the season, closer to the shrimp beds. They come in close to the beach in June and July as the anchovies arrive.
We have openings the next couple of weeks for salmon, as well as lingcod and rockfish. Call (541) 813-1082 or visit www.brookingsfishing.com to book a trip.
Below are some photos of the lingcod action from the past two days out of Brookings.
- Capt. Andy Martin
BrookingsFishing.com

One of the nice lingcod we've caught the past couple of days less than a mile from the Chetco River jetties.

Lingcod fishing continues to be great out of Brookings.

Lots of nice lingcod from Friday, May 1.

Two of the customers I had fish with Capt. Rye with some really nice lingcod.

Another lingcod caught just outside of the harbor at the Port of Brookings.

Nice lingcod from the Port of Brookings with BrookingsFishing.com

Nice lingcod caught on light tackle near Brookings, Oregon.

Father and daughter with a pair of nice lingcod.

Four of the lingcod we kept yesterday out of Brookings. This group from Redding, Calif., kept eight lingcod and released half a dozen while also keeping full limits of black, blue and canary rockfish.