Brookings? Need Suggestions/Help

Hey Man · 02-24-2005, 09:43 PM

Hi everyone, first time posting on the Salty Dogs.

I have capt. my 20' boat into the salt ~20 times so I'm still new to it, but I really want to get out there early this year. I have been watching the swell predictions closely and it looks like this Saturday out of Brookings should be a safe bet.

My question is - does anyone have coordinates they could share that are relatively close to port? My wife and I were wanting to hook some rockfish and lings. PM me if you like. Also, if you have any saftey suggestions about crossing this bar I would really appreciate it. I have done all of my crossings in Newport and Winchester Bay so this will be my first out of Brookings.

If anyone lives on the S. Coast and could post the conditions that would be great too. For the short period of time that I lived in Newport it seemed like the predictions were rarely correct.

Thanks in advance.

Bridge Dog · 02-24-2005, 10:29 PM

If you go out of brookings straight out to the first bouy look to the right and you will see a gazebo. Line up between the gazeebo and the bouy and just drift. You will get the feel of it inside of the wash rocks and never have to get out far enough to need coordinates. I fish that area a lot and never have to go out any further to get a limit of bottomfish. I will be over there weather permitting sunday maybe if it is nice I will head up to arch rock. I think there are a few lings with my name on them there. Oh by the way Keta I hope you can go with me.

Bridge Dog · 02-24-2005, 10:43 PM

Call the coast guard bar report before even going there . The local news doesn't do it justice. Chetco River 541-469-4571 If you can't get out of Brookings you can't get out period!!!!! As far as the bar goes it don't get no better! If you are going to be there sunday P.M. me

Hey Man · 02-25-2005, 05:52 AM

Bridge Dog,

Thanks for the info, if I go it will have to be Saturday. I will make the call into the C.G. before I head over, thanks.

I've heard you can pick up California halibut out of Brookings occasionally, and you don't have to be very far out. Is there any truth to that?

Gundog · 02-25-2005, 08:41 AM

Hey Man,
I lived in Brookings and fished quite a bit. When you cross the bar go staight out it is tempting to cut to your right but there are some wash rocks you need to look for if you do. Go out past the bell buoy before heading up the coast. The first island you see is called bird rock by most locals but I think the chart calls it goat island. If you don't want to get to far from the port this can be a good area to fish. On the south end of bird rock there is a big rock sticking out the water if I remeber right is about 100'deep and then comes up real fast to the rock sticking out of the water. Get in close to that rock and just look to see how it moves your boat if it is fairly flat get to about 75' of the rock sticking up and drift around the south end of it I have pulled more than a few lings from there. I normally don't fish that close to the harbor but due to the closer it might be real fishy. Also off of the face of bird rock on the ocean side you will find some good drifts and reefs just watch your depth finder this is in about 100' of water.

Now if the weather is good go up the coast further the further from the port you get the better the fishing usually is aprox. 8 miles up the coast you will find house rock. I like to fish this area good rock fishing for lings cabazone, blacks and blues. On the North side of house rock about 1/8 to 1/4 mile you will see some wash rocks and another rock that sticks up on the ocean side of the wash rocks drift that whole area between the wash rock and the rock that is sticking up there will be limits to be had in that area. If you have any other questions PM me.
Mike

Hey Man · 02-26-2005, 09:12 PM

Thanks to everyone that replied to the post and PM'd me. It helped a bunch.

We fished North of the Brookings Saturday morning and had our limit of lings and a couple rockfish in about 3 hrs of fishing.

It was a beautiful day - little wind, bright and sunny, and relatively calm ocean (I didn't get sick).

Thanks again.

Bridge Dog · 02-27-2005, 02:19 PM

Good thing you went out sat. I took my one day off and drove from Kfalls this morning and found 8ft at the jetty at about 7 seconds. 21 ft restictions which ment I could go but the coasties said they would go to 30 ft by 9am. Nice drive just for breakfast.

Gundog · 02-27-2005, 02:27 PM

Bridge Dog,
I am glad to hear you had the good sense to not go out. I know first hand how sometimes you feel like after spending the time and money to get there to go out anyway. When I lived in Brookings I lived high on the mountain behind the port I could see the coast guard flags from the deck of the house and I would just pick my days.
Mike