New Oregon rockfish and lingcod regulations (Dec. 9, 2016)

Oregon anglers can keep bigger variety of rockfish, lingcod population stable

BROOKINGS, Ore. - Oregon fishery managers have adopted the rockfish and lingcod regulations for the 2017 season, allowing anglers to keep a wider variety of rockfish while maintaining the seven-fish limit for snapper and two-fish limit for lings.

Oregon anglers will be allowed to keep more canary rockfish in 2017. In 2016, only one could be kept. In 2017, up to seven can be kept as part of the seven-fish total limit for rockfish.

Lingcod populations on the Oregon Coast have remained stable, allowing the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to keep the two-fish limit for lings. The minimum size remains 22 inches.
Oregon's lingcod and rockfish season remains open year round, keeping it the only state on the West Coast with 12 months of lingcod and rockfish fishing.
The 2017 ocean fishing regulations were set at the Dec. 2, 2016, Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting. Seasons and limits for salmon and halibut will be set in the spring of 2017.
Anglers will be allowed to continue to keep seven rockfish per day. The daily limit of black rockfish is six fish, as part of the seven-fish overall limit that includes other species of rockfish, as well as kelp greenling and cabezon. The two-fish lingcod limit is in addition to the seven rockfish.
Rockfish are also known as rock cod, sea bass and snapper.
During previous seasons, anglers could keep only one canary rockfish and three blue rockfish as part of the seven-fish limit. Copper rockfish, China rockfish and quillback rockfish were prohibited. Beginning in 2017, there is a four-fish sub-limit that includes any mix of blue rockfish, China rockfish, quillbacks and coppers. There is no sub-limit on vermilion rockfish, and now there is no sub-limit on canary rockfish, which have recovered to levels capable of sustaining a fishery, according to federal biologists from the National Marine Fisheries Service. Yelloweye rockfish must still be released.
Fishery managers were concerned about increasing harvest of black rockfish along the entire West Coast, so the daily limit for blacks was reduced from a total of seven to six in Oregon. The one-fish decrease in the black rockfish sub-limit will allow Oregon to keep its 12-month season, biologists said.

An angler holds a trophy vermilion rockfish caught aboard the Miss Brooke of Brookings Fishing Charters during the 2016 season.

In California, meanwhile, the black rockfish limit was reduced to three fish. It is also closed for part of the year.
"The new Oregon Coast regulations are actually really good," said Capt. Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. "Sure, we now can keep one less black rockfish, but we still will be able to keep seven total rockfish, and now we can keep more canaries, as well as Chinas, coppers and quillbacks. And the sub-limit for blues has increased, as sometimes we get into some pretty good-size blues."
The total limit remains nine fish, Martin said, counting the two lings and seven rockfish.
"We can keep a lot more color now," Martin said. "Anglers will leave with the same amount of fillets as before, and maybe a little bigger when we get into the coppers, quillbacks and canaries."

It's always exciting catching three rockfish at a time. Beginning in 2017, anglers can keep six black rockfish per day as part of the total rockfish limit of seven. Canaries, blues, cabezon, coppers, Chinas, quillbacks, vermilions, blues and kelp greenling also can be kept.

Brookings Fishing Charters begins its 2017 ocean season in March, after steelhead season wraps up on the Chetco and Smith rivers. Trips depart daily from the Port of Brookings Harbor. To book a trip, visit www.brookingsfishing.com or call (541) 813-1082.

The limit for lingcod remains two fish a day at least 22 inches long, in addition to seven rockfish per day.

Brookings ocean fishing report (July 2, 2015)

Hot weather continues to bake much of Southern Oregon and Northern California, while we enjoy mild weather,morning fog, and great fishing here in Brookings.
The lingcod and rockfish action continues to be very good. We are getting quick limits of quality rockfish, and some really nice lingcod, including some fish in the upper 20-pound range.
Salmon continues to be hit and miss out of Brookings. Saturday and Sunday produced decent fishing, but it has slowed again.
High temperatures in Brookings have been in the upper 60s and lower 70s. Perfect!
Aside from really nice black rockfish, we have been getting some nice canary rockfish, and have released a few big yelloweye and quillback rockfish (we are are not allowed to keep).
If you are shopping around for a charter, please keep a couple of things in mind. We run small groups of six or less people, and use quality, light tackle, while fishing in shallow water. This puts the fun back in ocean charters. And we are catching lots and lots of fish.
To book a trip, please visit www.brookingsfishing.com or call (541) 813-1082 or my cell (206) 388-8988.
- Capt. Andy Martin
BrookingsFishing.com

Below are just a few photos from the first half of this week!

Lingcod fishing heats up again (4-14-2015)

As the ocean conditions out of the Port of Brookings Harbor improved last week, so did the lingcod and rockfish action. We were back to catching limits of lingcod and rockfish last Wednesday through Friday before a big swell and strong winds returned over the weekend.
On Friday, I had six anglers, and we kept 12 lingcod and 42 rockfish, while also releasing several lingcod. We also limited on lingcod on Wednesday and Thursday, getting eight each day with four anglers.
Some of the lingcod have been in the 20-pound range.
The ocean salmon season opens in May, and with the abundance of bait off the Southern Oregon Coast, we could have some great early season action. The lingcod we caught last week hadn't spawned yet, so it looks like a fresh group of fish have moved into shallow water, a great sign for fishing the rest of April and into May.
On another note, there are quote a few charters to choose from right now out of Brookings, both the smaller boats with six passengers or less, and the bigger boats that fish up to 20 people. There are a few things that makes Brookings Fishing and Wild Rivers Fishing unique. I am one of the very few charter captains and fishing guides who actually grew up in Brookings and have strong local ties. I've been fishing the waters off of Brookings my whole life, and that experience comes in handy when we face rough water, slow bites, or heavy fishing pressure. I also specialize in smaller groups, so you can focus on quality limits of fish - especially lingcod and when in season, king salmon. It's hard to troll for salmon with 15 people on the boat, and I usually fish groups between four and six anglers.
I also love what I do (taking people fishing) and have top-quality gear. That's not always the case with charter boats in Brookings.
Here are some photos from last week's trips. We also did a whale watching trip for a family from Reno, and saw lots of whales and sea lions.
- Capt. Andy Martin
BrookingsFishing.com and wildriversfishing.com