Ugly, lazy, glutinous… These may not be qualities you look for on a dating site, but they’re exactly what you want in a good-eating fish. And nobody fits the bill like Lingcod.
These fish aren’t much to look at. Yet they have anglers in the Pacific Northwest combing the rocky seafloor year after year. In fact, records show that Lingcod were regularly harvested in California as long ago as 6200 BC. Native tribes targeted them using spears, nets, traps, and wooden lures with bone hooks!
The locals were really onto something. Lingcod are some of the tastiest fish that money can buy nowadays, with a mild filet akin to Halibut and Grouper. What’s more, they can reach up to 100 pounds, which means there’s plenty to go around after a successful day of Lingcod fishing. So grab your jigging rod, it’s time to bring home dinner!
How to Identify Lingcod
Despite their name, Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) are not a true cod. They’re actually the largest species of Greenling. Like other members of the Greenling family, they have long bodies and fan-like fins. Lingcod usually appear brown or gray with dappled markings, though some turn bright blue due to a pigment in the fish they eat.
“Lings” are especially homely due to their mean underbite and snaggle-tooth smile, which is one of their key features. In fact, the scientific name Ophiodon essentially translates to “snake” and “tooth.”
Lingcod are limited to the west coast of North America, from southeast Alaska down to Baja California. They’re most abundant in the upper portion of this range, where they also reach the biggest sizes. In Alaska and British Columbia, Lingcod grow as long as 5 feet and weigh over 100 pounds. But it’s most common to catch specimens that weigh 40–50 pounds. Down in Oregon and California, these fish typically measure 2–3 feet long and weigh up to 20 pounds.
Best Lingcod Fishing Spots
While some states boast bigger trophies than others, you can access great Lingcod fishing no matter where you cast your line on the West Coast. Some of the top-rated destinations are:
Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Vancouver Island sees some of the biggest fish in the Pacific Northwest, and the local Lingcod are no exception. It’s hard to go wrong boarding a charter boat here, with renowned locations like Tofino, Sooke, Campbell River, and Ucluelet. Spring and summer are the ideal times to book your trip, when the sportfishing season for these fish is open and they’ll be feeding relatively close to shore.
Seward, Alaska
Lingcod mainly inhabit the southern shores of The Last Frontier, so you’ll want to set your sights on the Gulf of Alaska. We recommend booking a charter out of Seward, where the average Lingcod weighs 40–50+ pounds. If you hook a trophy, that could easily go up to 85 pounds! Homer is a close second here, and you can also enjoy great Lingcod fishing off the Kenai Peninsula.
Lingcod season in this area opens in July (a couple of months later than other parts of the state, but it’s well worth the wait).
Puget Sound, Washington
Lingcod season often marks the opening of Puget Sound‘s sport fishery each year, making it much anticipated by local anglers. What’s more, the fish here reach impressive sizes and you can catch them within sight of Seattle’s skyline.
Some of the better-known Ling fishing spots in Puget Sound include “The Narrows” by Tacoma, Double Bluff off of Whidbey Island, and Foulweather Bluff off of Kitsap. But it’s the small uncharted honey holes you really want to go after. For that, you should butter up a local captain.
Brookings, Oregon
This small town in southern Oregon probably wasn’t on your radar, but it should be. Brookings is the next big thing when it comes to Lingcod fishing (if the locals have anything to say about it, anyway).
Here, the season is open year-round, which means you can take advantage of it any time you’re passing through town. Some claim the fishing in December is hotter than ever, which you don’t hear too often because this fish is off-limits in other states at that time of year. More hot spots on the Oregon coast include Coos Bay, Newport, and Astoria.
Morro Bay, California
Generally, the farther north you fish, the bigger the Lingcod get. But Morro Bay on California’s central coast offers an exception. Lingcod is one of the area’s top targets, and some of the biggest specimens south of the US-Canada border are caught right here. Local charter boats have landed fish upwards of 20 pounds, with a local record of 38 pounds in 2014. With numbers like that, it’s no surprise there’s a Lingcod fishing competition here every year!
How to Fish for Lingcod
Though Lingcod dwell hundreds of feet below the surface, they don’t come equipped with a swim bladder, and that makes it hard for them to move around. Instead, they nestle themselves in rocky areas and wait for food to swim by. This come-what-may attitude has everything to do with the way you’ll catch them.
For starters, seek out fishing grounds with rocks or reefs, and a strong current that Lingcod rely on to push prey their way. Usually, you’ll find them in waters 50–200 feet deep. Let’s take a look at some of the techniques you’ll use and the gear you’ll need…
Bottom Fishing
When bottom fishing, you’ll want a 9–10′ medium or heavy-action fishing rod paired with a conventional reel that can hold about 400 yards of 30–60 lb test line. Be sure to use a braided line, since you’re fishing in rocky areas and expect to get hung up now and then (it quite literally comes with the territory). With this in mind, don’t opt for a super heavy line because it will be harder to break off when your line gets caught.
Additionally, you’ll want to have a 30–50 lb mono or fluorocarbon leader that’s somewhere between 15–30 inches long. You can target Lingcod using octopus hooks (typically 6/0–10/0), circle hooks (14/0–16/0), or treble hooks (8/0). Sizing will depend on where you’re fishing and the average size of local fish.
Lastly, you’ll want to use a sinker of some sort to keep your bait on the bottom. The exact weight depends on the depth you’re fishing and how strong the tide is. If your line drops straight down, you’ve pegged the right amount of weight. If you don’t feel your hook reach the bottom, however, and your line settles at an angle away from the boat, you probably need a heavier sinker.
Deep Sea Fishing
When fishing waters deeper than 200 feet, it’s time to level up your tackle. A shorter, heavier rod is in order (5–6 feet) along with 65–80 lb test line. Choose a reel that will hold at least 300 yards. Though you don’t need a descending device to catch-and-release Lingcod, Rockfish are a common bycatch, so you should have one on-hand to return them safely.
Jigging
Jigging for Lingcod is really popular, too. As you pull your bait along the bottom, move your rod up and down to create that jigging motion that mimics injured prey. There are endless jigs (and other lures) you can use while fishing for Lingcod–see our list of top picks below.
For this technique, choose a 6–8′ fast-action rod. Again, be sure to use a braided line in the 40–50 lb test range, with a leader of 30–50 lb mono or fluorocarbon.
Surf Fishing
If you don’t have access to a boat, you may still have a chance at catching small Lingcod from shore. Cast your line from piers, jetties, or the shoreline and you could find any number of Rockfish or Lingcod on the other end.
Here, your rod choice is highly dependent on where you’re fishing as well as your personal preference. However, you can start out with a stout, 8–10′ spinning or casting rod. A mono line is an option in this case, but you’re likely to be casting over sharp, rocky coastline, so choose something durable in the 15–30 lb test range.
Best Lingcod Bait and Lures
Nothing compares to live bait, but Lingcod don’t necessarily shy away from dead bait, either. Anglers also have a lot of success fishing with artificials. Recommendations vary by region and you’ll have to experiment to find what sticks.
Bait
Choosing your bait depends on what the local Lingcod are used to eating. Down in California, some anglers swear by live mackerel. Anchovies, sardines, and squid also work. In Oregon and Washington, the go-to baits are greenling and sand dab. Then again, if you’re fishing dead bait in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, you might find that herring and anchovies do the trick.
Lures
With so many variations to choose from, you’ll find that the sky’s the limit. Who knows? You might never stop experimenting! Note that you’ll have to work a little harder if you’re fishing for Lingcod with lures rather than live bait because you have to mimic the movement natural prey would normally create on their own.
Hard metal jigs are the go-to lure for many anglers. These require little effort aside from some bouncing off the bottom. Wait to feel your sinker hit the rocks before every lift, and you’re right in the target zone.
But you can also try soft plastics like grubs, swimbaits, and hoochies (made to look like squid). Since the plastic material is lighter, your challenge here will be keeping your lure close to the bottom (a lead head hook is an easy fix for that). Since you’re fishing fairly deep, beyond the sun’s reach, opt for glow colors.
When to Catch Lingcod
Lingcod are present year-round but many states limit the fishing season to spring, summer, and fall. Anglers often consider spring and summer to be the best time to fish for them—although, in areas where it’s legal to target Lingcod during winter, some say December offers the best bite.
Every state has its own rules regarding open seasons and bag limits in order to protect the species, so make sure you know the facts before heading out.
California. Recreational fishing for Lingcod in California typically opens in April, with a limit of one fish per day. The Lingcod you keep must be caught in waters less than 240 feet deep and should measure at least 22 inches long. Note that California’s Groundfish regulations vary by region and some rules differ depending on whether you fish inshore or offshore.
Oregon. Fishing for Lingcod is open year-round. Oregon’s state regulations allow recreational anglers to keep two fish per day that are a minimum size of 22 inches.
Washington. Lingcod season is open from March 9 to October 19 (exact dates can vary from year to year and may depend on the area you’re fishing in). Washington sportfishing regulations allow two Lingcod per angler, with no minimum size requirement.
Alaska. Lingcod regulations in Alaska vary substantially from region to region. In some areas, the season opens as early as May, while in other regions (such as the North Gulf Coast) anglers must wait until July. Size and bag limits also vary and these may be different for Alaska residents vs. non-residents. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, look up the area you’ll be fishing in via Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game website.
British Columbia. Lingcod season in British Columbia runs from April to November 15. The possession limit is one fish per day which must measure at least 65 centimeters from the base of the pectoral fin to the middle of the tail.
Lingcod: A Longtime Favorite
Lingcod have long been coveted for their food value, making them an integral part of human survival on the West Coast for millenia. They may not play a key role in today’s food economy, but they’re an icon of the Pacific Northwest nonetheless. If you plan on plumbing these shores for a chance to fill your cooler, this fish should be near the top of your list. They’re delicious, easy to catch, and don’t require hours of travel to the deep sea. With so many hot spots up and down the coast, you have no shortage of opportunity!
Have you ever targeted Lingcod? Maybe you have some questions before your trip? Whatever your background, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
The post How to Fish for Lingcod: The Complete Guide for 2024 appeared first on FishingBooker Blog.
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