Oregon's offshore waters offer exceptional rockfish angling using a specialized "long leader" technique. This productive method employs a three-hook rig suspended from a 30-foot dropper, targeting mid-water rockfish species. This rig is highly effective for yellowtail, canary, and widow rockfish, and frequently yields catches of boccaccio and other deepwater varieties, providing a diverse and exciting fishing experience.The long leader's key advantage is its ability to suspend baits at optimal depths, minimizing snags on the ocean floor and maximizing encounters with schooling rockfish. While this technique prevents targeting bottom-dwelling species like lingcod, it significantly increases the rockfish limit to 10 per angler. This higher limit makes long leader fishing especially appealing when nearshore rockfishing is slow. Furthermore, offshore rockfish caught using this method tend to be significantly larger than their inshore counterparts. If you're looking to fill your freezer with quality fish, Oregon's long leader rockfishing is an excellent choice.