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.

Brookings Fishing Charters specializes in lingcod

BROOKINGS, Ore. - With lingcod populations healthy on the Oregon Coast, most charters return to the docks with a few nice lingcod each day. Aboard the Miss Brooke of Brookings Fishing Charters, however, the goal each day is to get each customer into their limit of lingcod.
"We specifically target lingcod, which is something not all charter boats do," said Capt. Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters (www.brookingsfishing.com). "Because we run six-pack boats, we can spend time each day fishing specifically for lingcod. We use baits and lures that are intended to catch lingcod, not just rockfish."
Most Oregon Coast charter boats rig up with shrimp flies or small plastic grubs to catch rockfish (also known as snapper or rockcod), and while fishing for those fish they will encounter a few lingcod. "We use that same gear to catch rockfish, but we also use large baits and large jigs that will entice lingcod into biting," Martin said. "We also fish the pinnacles where lingcod hang out. We want our customers to catch limits of rockfish and lingcod."
It is common aboard the Miss Brooke and the other Brookings Fishing Charter boats to use light spinning rods to catch limits of rockfish, and then use slightly heavier rods rigged with bait with nothing but lingcod in mind.

Big lingcod like this, caught by customer Don Stroh, are a specialty of Brookings Fishing Charters.

Brookings Fishing Charters has a loyal following among anglers who want to catch lingcod because of the charter boat company's high success rate in catching lings. "We don't just catch lingcod by accident. Our crew works really hard to find lingcod and rig our customers with the gear to catch them," Martin said.

Capt. Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters has a well-earned reputation of being one of the most consistent charter boats captains on the Oregon Coast of getting customers into nice lingcod.

Big lingcod are caught regularly aboard the Miss Brooke of Brookings Fishing Charters.

Lingcod are abundant along the entire Oregon Coast. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the population is healthy and stable. Anglers are allowed two lingcod a day at least 22 inches long.
"We catch them all season, but the late winter and spring months are good because that's when the big fish move in close to spawn. August and September also is a good time to catch lings," Martin said.

Catching limits of lingcod was a memorable experience for this family.

Anglers of all skill levels catch lingcod with the Brookings Fishing Charters crew. Many families book charters so children can experience the thrill of catching lingcod, which are among the best-tasting fish on the Pacific Coast.

This group from Klamath Falls, Ore., left with full limits of lingcod while fishing aboard the Miss Brooke of Brookings Fishing Charters in 2017.

The filleting and bagging of the catch is included with each charter with Brookings Fishing Charters. Based at the Port of Brookings, the Miss Brooke and other Brookings charters operate from February through October. Brookings has the safest bar crossing on the Oregon Coast, and generally has the calmest ocean conditions on the coast.

A nice limit of lingcod made the trip to Brookings worthwhile for Jeff, a frequent customer of Brookings Fishing Charters.

"We can usually find a protected cove to fish in, even when the rest of the Oregon Coast is too windy or has too big of a swell to fish," Martin said.
To learn more about lingcod fishing with Brookings Fishing Charters, visit www.brookingsfishing.com.

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

Easy,delicious beer-battered fish and chips recipe by Brookings Fishing Charters

Nothing caps a day of limiting out on Oregon Coast lingcod and rockfish like enjoying the catch with a feast of beer-battered fish and chips.

Beer-battered rockfish and lingcod served with homemade tarter and cocktail sauce.

Deep fried fish is not only delicious, but also quick and easy to make. 

To ensure the fish cooks evenly and quickly, cut the fillets into smaller pieces. Four- to five-inch sections works well. Examine the fillets to make sure there are no bones. Pat dry with a paper towel.

Season flower with salt and other seasonings, such as Johnny's or creole seasoning.

In a bowl, mix flower with salt and other seasonings. I like Johnny's original seasoning, and Tommy Chachere's creole seasoning. Two to three cups of flour will suffice. 

Roll the fillets in the seasoned flour.

Roll the pieces of fish in the seasoned flour. You can roll them in a bowl, or put the seasoned flour in a plastic bag and shake with the fillets. Flour the fish in batches or two or three pieces.

Floured fillets.

Once the fish is rolled in seasoned flour, the beer batter will stick to it better instead of parting from the fish as it is deep fried. The seasoned flour will also give a little kick to rockfish fillets, which have a mild flavor.

Add one part beer to one part flour to make the batter.

The simplest beer batter is one part flour and one part beer. For several servings of fish, mix four cups of flour with four cups of beer. Use cold beer and keep the batter cold.

Stir the beer and flour until a thick batter forms.

The key to good beer battered fish is a thin coating of cold batter, and frying in hot oil. When the cold batter hits the hot oil (350 to 400 degrees), it instantly seals the fish, making a much better finished product.

Drench the fish with batter and gently scrape the fillet against the inside of the bowl to give it a light coating of batter.

Coat the pieces of fish with the batter by submerging the fillets in the cold batter and then gently rubbing the fillets against the inside of the bowl. That will give each fillet a thin coating of batter, and prevent the fish from being too oily or soggy when finished. A thin coating of batter is all that is needed.

Deep fry the fish in 350-400 degree oil for 4 to 5 minutes.

Submerge the fillets, two or three at a time, in hot oil (350-400 degrees) for four to five minutes. Allow the fillets to drain for a moment and then place on a paper towel.

Mix lemon juice, ketchup and horseradish to make homemade cocktail sauce.

Mix chopped onion, chopped dill pickles, a little mayonnaise and lemon juice to make tarter sauce.

Homemade tarter and cocktail sauce.

While the fish is cooking, I like to make homemade cocktail and tarter sauce. To make cocktail sauce, mix ketchup with pure horseradish (not horseradish sauce), and lemon juice. A little horseradish goes a long way. Add more if you like hot cocktail sauce.

To make tarter sauce, combine a little mayonnaise, chopped fresh onion and chopped dill pickle. Equal parts of each generally works well. Add a little lemon juice as you stir it.

Beer batter fish and chips!

To catch a limit of lingcod and rockfish to make your own beer-battered fish, contact Capt. Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing at www.brookingsfishing.com, or all (541) 813-1082.

Salmon fishing improving out of Brookings (June 27, 2015)

Since the ocean salmon season opened in early May out of the Port of Brookings Harbor, fishing has been rather slow. This week, we finally started to see some major improvements.
On Wednesday, the commercial trollers out of Brookings had their best day of the season. Most boats returned to the harbor with their 30-fish daily limits. On Thursday, the sport boats began to find better numbers of fish.
Salmon fishing improved again today, with a couple dozen kings reported. We ventured several miles offshore and had two take downs, catching a really nice hatchery king. It was caught in 300 feet of water, trolling 135 feet down on the downrigger. We were right in the middle of the big shrimp net boats.
Some boats that went further out got limits of kings and hatchery silvers. We had a combo trip today, so we only spent a few hours trolling, then ran back toward shore to limit out on rockfish and catch half a dozen nice lingcod, as well as a bunch of crab.
For the past week, we've continued to enjoy good action for lingcod and rockfish. We also are doing well on crab, and the quality of the crab has improved, with the majority now hard shell.
July is the peak month for kings out of Brookings. Remember, we specialize in light tackle, small groups and offer lingcod/rockfish trips, salmon charters and combos where we troll for salmon and jig for lings and rockfish. We also are checking crab pots each day on our way back to the dock.

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

Below are a few photos from the past week.

Brookings deep sea fishing best on Oregon Coast right now! (June 12, 2015)

The lingcod and rockfish action out of the Port of Brookings Harbor has been nothing short of spectacular the last couple of weeks. Except for a couple of trips when the wind kept us very close to port, we've been able to find limits of lingcod and a very nice grade of rockfish (known also as snapper, sea bass, black bass, rockcod and black cod).
The ground swell off the coast of Brookings has been minimal. Most days it is less than 3 feet. If the wind isn't blowing, it has been very flat. Northwest winds, however, have limited where we have been able to fish a few days because of the wind chop.
Talking with charters on the rest of the Oregon Coast, Brookings has had some of the best fishing in the region, mainly because we have been able to get out onto the ocean more than the boats up the coast. Remember, Brookings sits in a protected bay and we aren't exposed to the direct swell like other Oregon ports.
The big rockfish have moved into shallow water. Lately we've been finding them as shallow as 45 feet. That makes for some exciting light tackle action on the spinning rods and 12-pound-test line we use.
The lingcod fishing continues to be exceptional this season. Limits almost every day. Today, for example, most of the other charters didn't run because of the wind. We fished the Chetco Point area, and despite the wind chop, managed to get 10 keepers to the boat. We have had great action all week!
I have also been setting crab pots out and we have been checking them each day on the way back in. It's a nice bonus to leave with a couple of crab per person along with limits of great-tasting lingcod and rockfish fillets.
Salmon fishing is still slow. The good news is the anchovies are thick in the Port of Brookings. The sardines, smelt and herring also are here, along with the pelicans. Salmon fishing should take off any time now.

To book a trip, please call (541) 813-1082, or my cell, (206) 388-8988. You also can book on my web site, brookingsfishing.com, or wildriversfishing.com.

Below are some of the photos from the past few weeks. As you can, we've been catching some great fish out of the Port of Brookings.

- Capt. Andy Martin
Brookings Fishing
www.brookingsfishing.com
541-813-1082