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.

Giant vermilion rockfish caught by Brookings Fishing Charters

During the 2017 ocean bottom fishing season out of the Port of Brookings on the Southern Oregon Coast, the crew of the Miss Brooke of Brookings Fishing Charters got customers into an impressive number of big vermilion rockfish.
These spectacular-looking rockfish are among the most prized bottom fish anglers catch on the Oregon Coast. Aside from providing great fillets for fish and chips, the vermilion rockfish are hard fighters and among the coolest of all rockfish in appearance. Sometimes called red snapper, the vermilions are found off the coasts of Oregon and California. Brookings is one of the best spots on the Oregon coast to catch them.
The world record vermilion rockfish weighed 12 pounds and was caught off the coast of Depoe Bay, Oregon, in 1990. This summer, customers of Brookings Fishing Charters caught several just under the world record size.
Capt. Andy Martin and Capt. Travis Sallander are among the most successful charter boat captains on the Oregon Coast and getting customers into limits of big rockfish and lingcod, and each season catch some of the biggest vermilion rockfish on the coast.
Here are some photos of a few of the trophy vermilion rockfish from the 2017 season.
To book a trip with Brookings Fishing Charters, visit www.brookingsfishing.com

Lingcod, rockfish heats up out of Port of Brookings (April 7, 2016)

Weather conditions have improved, we've enjoyed several days with light winds and small swells, and the fishing for lingcod and rockfish out of the Port of Brookings Harbor on the Southern Oregon Coast has really heated up. For the most part, we have been catching limits of nice-size lingcod, as well as limits of rockfish (also known as snapper, sea bass, rock cod, and black bass). 

The Miss Brooke, Brookings Fishing Charters' 29-foot offshore boat, has been taking anglers to the Bird Island, House Rock and Mack Arch areas for fast and furious light-tackle lingcod and rockfish action. We use light spinning rods with small grubs or shrimp flies combined with flutter jigs (lead anchovies) or jigheads with twin-tail scampies. The lingcod have been biting in 50 to 90 feet of water, while we have been catching rockfish in 25 to 100 feet of water.

Fishing for lings and rockfish should continue to be good well into the summer months. This year's limits are two lingcod per person and seven rockfish per person. 

We will find out next week the dates of this year's ocean salmon seasons.

This summer we also will be chasing tuna and halibut out of Brookings. The Miss Brooke is one of the fastest boats in the fleet in Brookings and is equipped with radar, a life raft, and other safety equipment.

To book a trip, visit www.brookingsfishing.com or call (541) 813-1082 or (206) 388-8988 cell/text.

- Capt. Andy Martin

Brookings Fishing Charters

www.brookingsfishing.com

Limits of lingcod aboard the Miss Brooke with Brookings Fishing Charters.

More limits of lingcod out of the Port of Brookings Harbor.

Get to the fishing grounds quickly and in comfort aboard the 29-foot Miss Brooke.

We catch limits of lingcod on light tackle!

A very nice vermillion rockfish caught with Brookings Fishing Charters.