Commonly caught off the Washington coast by commercial harvesters using otter-trawls, handline jig, and longline gear. Commonly caught by recreational harvesters within Puget Sound.
For more information on fishing for lingcod, check out this May 2022 WDFW blog post.
Description and Range
Physical description
Lingcod are a large and elongate species. The body is gray to brown, greenish or bluish, with darker and lighter spotting. The belly is lighter. There is a prominent whitish lateral line and the body is covered with cycloid (round) scales. The dorsal fin is long with spinous and soft-rayed parts nearly separated by a notch. The anal fin has 3 spines. The mouth is large with the upper jaw extending rearward past the eyes. Teeth are large and canine-like. The head is unscaled and there is a cirrus above the eye.
Lingcod can grow up to 152 cm (60 in or 5 ft) in length, and 59 kg (130 lbs) in weight. Maximum age is 14 years for males and 20 years for females.
Geographic range
Lingcod range from Kodiak Island to northern Baja, California and possibly to the Bering Sea. They are found on the bottom, with most individuals occupying rocky areas at depths of 10 to 100 m (32-328 ft). They have been found at depths of 427 m (1,400 ft).
State record
- Weight
- 61.00 lbs
- Angler
- Tom Nelson
- Location
- San Juan Islands, San Juan County
- Date Caught
- July 30, 1986