Chetco, Smith, Rogue, Umpqua, Elk, Sixes, Coos and Coquille Rivers at their Best! phone_iphone541.813.1082  /  206.388.8988

Ocean charter season begins in Brookings

During the fall and winter, the Wild Rivers Fishing crew runs guided drift boat trips on the Chetco, Smith, Elk and Sixes rivers for salmon and steelhead. As spring arrives, our crew shifts gears, putting the drift boats away and instead focuses on ocean charters out of the Port of Brookings. Our team of guides are also full-time charter boat captains for Brookings Fishing Charters.

A 28-pound lingcod caught in mid-March aboard the Nauti-Lady with Capt. Andy.

Capt. Andy, Capt. Rye, Capt. Mick, Capt. Sam, Capt. Michael, Capt. Shane and Capt. Travis run charters boats for lingcod and rockfish during the spring. Stormy weather kept boats at the dock for much of January and February, but in mid-March, the ocean settled down and fishing has been good. Last week was the unofficial kickoff of the ocean season, with light winds and small swells.

The biggest lingcod so far is a 28-pounder caught last Sunday aboard the Nauti-Lady with Capt. Andy. Several other fish close to 20 pounds also have been caught.

Bruce and Vince with limits of lingcod caught last week on the Nauti-Lady.

Frequent Wild Rivers Fishing customers Bruce and Vince fished aboard the Nauti-Lady last week, and caught limits of nice lingcod. Bruce was the jackpot winner for the day as well. They caught lingcod and rockfish near House Rock, about 6 miles north of Brookings.

Capt. Sam gaffs a lingcod for Bruce on the Nauti-Lady.
Anglers hold limits of lingcod caught on the Miss Brooke with Capt. Travis.

Lingcod and rockfish is open year round out of Brookings. Salmon season opens in June. Halibut season opens May 1. The Point St. George Reef Lighthouse, home to some of the best lingcod fishing on the Pacific Coast, opens May 15. Albacore tuna arrive in July.

Capt. Mick helps a young angler hold his limit of lingcod from the Nauti-Lady in late March.
Nauti-Lady deckhand Kirby holds a lingcod caught by Sarah, the office manager at Brookings Fishing Charters.

Steelhead fishing is winding down on the Chetco and Smith. Capt. Mick and Sam are still running a few trips. The season closes March 31 on the Chetco, and April 30 on the Smith. With good flows, steelhead will continue to arrive through the end of the season. Spring salmon also are arriving now on the lower Rogue River.

Limits of lingcod from the Miss Brooke in mid-March with Capt. Travis and Capt. Andy.

To learn more about our ocean fishing charters, visit www.brookingsfishing.com, or call (541) 813-1082.

Our Signature Trips

•   Chetco River   •

The Chetco is one of Oregon’s premier salmon and steelhead rivers, and our most popular fishery. It produces more kings over 50 pounds.

•   Smith River   •

The Smith River is known for its large run of giant king salmon, as well as numerous steelhead of over 20 pounds.

•   Rogue River   •

The Rogue River is one of the few rivers in the world that has salmon and steelhead fishing twelve months a year!

•   Coquille Bay   •

The Coquille and Coos Bays have most prolific early fall salmon fishing on Oregon Coast!

•   Elk and Sixes   •

For sheer numbers of king salmon, the Elk River is hard to beat. The Elk and Sixes both have late fall runs, peaking in December.

•   Brookings Ocean Charters   •

Capt. Andy Martin spent 10 years guiding in Alaska but now guides and runs charter boats year round in Brookings, Oregon.
Call Captain Andy Martin   •   541.813.1082 / 206.388.8988 Wild Rivers Fishing, P.O. Box 1646, Brookings, OR 97415