Lingcod Fishing 101

What Lingcod lack in looks, they more than make up for on the dinner table. Arguably one of the most delicious fish on the West Coast, Lingcod have flaky white meat with fantastic flavour. They’re easier to cook than Halibut, as they’re less prone to drying out if slightly overcooked, something Halibut is notoriously sensitive to.

These voracious ambush predators have large bucket mouths lined with 18 razor-sharp teeth. Lingcod are known to attack prey nearly as large as themselves, even their own species. It’s not uncommon to hook a smaller Lingcod and have a larger one latch on and come up to the surface with the smaller fish locked in its jaws. It’s truly eat or be eaten down there.

What Are Lingcod?

Lingcod, despite what their name implies, are not a cod at all. They are actually members of the Greenling family, and a very interesting member at that, as they lack any close relatives within that family, they’re really one of a kind. 

While Lingcod are generally a similar brownish colour with a lighter-coloured belly, there are a few wild cards in the bunch. Some fish, while still exhibiting their traditional brown suit, have a bright blue hue to them. Not to worry, these fish are fine to eat. The meat from these blue-coloured fish will have the blue hue as well, but it will turn white when cooked.

These fish are a great opportunity to wow friends at dinner that don’t know about these unique blue-coloured Lingcod. Lingcod can grow to large sizes. The world record from Alaskan water is 82 pounds 6 oz. Large fish, though, will be large females, so keep this in mind when retaining Lingcod. Generally speaking, a jumbo Lingcod is not as good eating as a smaller to medium-sized one. A 14 lb–18 lb Ling is a great specimen for the table, good size fillets and great texture and flavour.

Angling Rules and Regulations

Disclaimer: We’ve done our best to provide accurate information, but it’s the angler’s responsibility to verify current regulations as they are subject to change.

To fish for Lingcod, you’ll need a valid BC tidal waters angling license, which runs from April 1st to March 31st of the following year. Licenses can be purchased online at the DFO website or in person at Sea-Run Fly and Tackle.

While Lingcod are found throughout the coast, not every region has an open season. For instance, there is no Lingcod season in the waters around the Lower Mainland, this includes Indian Arm, Howe Sound, and areas off the Fraser River mouth (Area 28, and Areas 29-1 to 29-4 and 29-6 to 29-17).

On the inside waters that do have openings, the season typically runs from May 1st to October 1st. The daily limit is one Lingcod with a minimum size of 65 cm. You must immediately record any retained Lingcod on your license. You can retain up to 10 Lingcod per license year.

On the West Coast of Vancouver Island and in northern waters, the season opens April 1st and closes November 15th. Here, the daily limit is three fish (also with a 65 cm minimum size), and these fish do not need to be recorded on your license.

A descending device is legally required to be onboard your vessel. It’s used to safely release fish suffering from barotrauma, a condition that prevents deep-dwelling fish like Rockfish from returning to depth due to their expanded swim bladders. While Lingcod typically don’t suffer from this, Rockfish, which can be by-catch, certainly do. Descending devices like the Seaqualizer or SShelton Fish Descenders are available for purchase online or at the shop.

Also, ensure you’re aware of Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCAs), where fishing is not permitted. There are 162 RCAs along the West Coast. Full rules and area-specific regulations can be found on the DFO website.

Where to Catch Lingcod

Lingcod favour rocky structures such as reefs and pinnacles, but you’ll also find them on deeper humps with sharp drop-offs. They inhabit depths from as shallow as 15 feet to over 200 feet.

Fishing methods vary by depth:

• 18'–80': Jigging is highly effective.

• 20'–130': Drifting or slow trolling works well.

• 80'–230': Use downriggers for deeper water.

Jigging for Lingcod

Jigging involves dropping a weighted lure to the bottom and mimicking the motion of a wounded baitfish. Use a heavy jig (3–14 oz) with a swivel and a strong monofilament leader (minimum 40 lb).

The most popular jigs are Buzzbombs, Zzingers, Mac Deeps, Delta Tackle Mac Fish and P-Line Laser Minnows.

You want to get down to the bottom as quickly as possible, so we recommend using heavier jigs in the 3-6oz range. It’s a good idea to let the jig hit the bottom and then bring it up a few feet before you commence jigging. As the boat drifts,  bounce the bottom occasionally to ensure you’re in the zone. 

Swim Baits for Jigging

Swim Baits are lures that are extremely effective for Lingcod. Swim baits look and swim just like real baitfish. The paddle tail wiggles and vibrates to create an irresistible action, even in water that has very little current.

Some of the heavier swim baits can be jigged just like the other jigging lures (raising the rod tip and quickly lowering it) to bring the paddle tail alive.  Lingcod can’t help but latch on to them!  Popular and productive swim baits are Delta Tackle Power Paddle in the 10oz or 16oz size, and the Lighthouse Lures Max Shad in the 6oz size.

Spinning Rods and Reels for Jigging

When using the jigging method, a stout spinning rod is an acceptable setup. This allows you to drop your line quickly by flicking open the bail or even casting out a lure if needed. This can be particularly advantageous when drifting because you can cast upcurrent, allowing you to reach the bottom faster since the line is not being pulled by the current.

Rod lengths of 9 feet are the most commonly used. Reels should be saltwater capable and have a generous line capacity. Some great choices are the Penn Wrath Combo, Penn Fierce IV Combo, or the Penn Battle IV Combo. Rods used in this fishery should be 9 feet with medium-heavy action and equipped with a 5000 to 6000 series sized spinning reel.

Braided mainline is a must for these setups as it allows you to use a heavy line without substantially increasing its diameter. Braid has no stretch, which gives you better hooksets and allows you to feel your lure ticking off the bottom better than a monofilament line would. We recommend Power Pro, Tuf-Line XP, or Sufix 832 Braid in 65lb or 80lb; all have proven to be excellent lines.

Downrigger Trolling for Lingcod

Another productive method is to troll swim baits using a downrigger, similar to how one would troll for salmon, with one major difference: your trolling speed. You will want to troll at a slower speed compared to trolling for salmon. The swim bait is set up with a leader from the mainline, as with other methods.

A heavier leader line is recommended to prevent the sharp teeth of the Lingcod from damaging the line, 60lb-80lb Maxima Ultragreen or Berkley Big Game Leader Wheels are good options. Let your bait out 10’-20’ behind the boat and set it into the downrigger release clip. Lower it to just above the bottom and wait for that rod to bounce!

Rods and Reels for Downrigger Trolling

When trolling for Lingcod with a downrigger, a standard salmon rod and reel setup can be used. A 10’6” rod like a Trophy Titan 3106, Trophy QR, Okuma Salish and Shimano Technium are all great options to consider.

We recommend pairing these rods with a Daiwa M-One UTD 400, Trophy QR, R3EF, Islander MR3, Islander MR2 LA or an Islander TR3 mooching reel.  Braided line should also be used for this setup with the addition of a top shot of 50’-70’ of 30lb or 40lb monofilament between your mainline and the lure, a good knot to join the two lines is a Double Uni Knot.

Drifting/Slow Trolling for Lingcod

Another way to fish for Lingcod is to drift with the current while using the boat's engine to slowly troll your lure around. When fishing with this method, we use a slightly more elaborate setup. This includes attaching a spreader bar to your mainline, along with a weight and a leader.

The spreader bar not only ties everything together but also helps reduce the chances of gear getting tangled when being lowered. Even when using the spreader bar, it’s always advisable not to let your gear down too fast, as tangles can still occur. Check out our video on setting up a spreader bar.

We recommend using a cylinder weight of 16oz-24oz off the spreader bar and a monofilament leader of 60lb-100lb, about 6’-8’ long. Swim baits are highly effective when fished this way.

The Delta Tackle Power Paddle and Lighthouse Lures Max Shads work well, as do lighter swim baits such as the Storm WildEye Swim Shad, Savage Gear Sandeel, and the Savage Gear Real Eel.

One important thing to keep in mind when using these swim baits is that they are weighted. When you lower your gear and hit the bottom, you’ll want to reel up your leader length, plus a bit more, or you’ll quickly get snagged. Lingcod will swim up to bite a lure, so being a bit shallower isn’t a bad thing, getting snagged on the bottom, however, is. When fishing this way, it’s very important to keep an eye on your water depths to ensure you’re fishing correctly. Not paying attention and drifting into deeper water can mean your lure ends up too far out of the strike zone, or you may drift into shallower water and snag the bottom.

When fishing with this method, it’s easiest to leave the rod in the rod holder. When a fish bites, simply reel to set the hook. This method is quicker than struggling to pull the rod out of the holder, which could result in missing the fish. You can either leave the rod in the holder to bring the fish up or take it out to do so manually. With the heavy-duty rods and reels used in this fishery, it’s often easier to leave the rod in the holder and let it do the heavy lifting for you.

Conventional Rods and Reels for Drifting and Slow Trolling

When drifting or slow trolling with a spreader bar setup, a short 1-piece rod in 6’6”-7’ length and in MH (medium heavy) or H (heavy) action is the norm.  These rods are paired with large baitcasting-type reels like the Penn Squall, Shimano Torium, Penn Warfare or Shimano Talica. These reels have strong drags and are designed for saltwater use. Just like the spinning setup, braided line is the way to go here. 

Accessories

There aren’t many accessories for Lingcod fishing that we haven’t already covered, but a few additional items are worth mentioning. A hook file is a good choice, like the the P-Line High Carbon Steel Hook File in either the 3” or 4” size. The lures used for Lingcod fishing can be expensive, and since you’re fishing close to the bottom, having a hook file not only increases your chances of landing more fish but also saves money by preventing the need to replace a lure due to a dull hook.

A good pair of pliers is handy for releasing fish or cutting line. A high-quality fillet knife is also essential for cutting gill rakers to bleed the fish once it’s been dispatched. Recommended options include the Rapala Fish'n Fillet Knife, Frosts Gutting and Cleaning Knife with Spoon, or the Gamakatsu Fillet Knife.

Lastly, we highly recommend having a gaff when fishing for Lingcod. Bron's Wooden Gaff is an excellent choice and comes in 24”, 29”, or 36” sizes. The handle length is more a matter of personal preference or boat configuration. A gaff is not only one of the best tools for releasing fish but also the most effective way to bring a retained fish on board. Using a net, like when salmon fishing, often doesn’t work well.

If you have any questions about Lingcod fishing, please feel free to contact us by email at info@sea-run.com, by phone at 604-931-5044 or stop by   Sea-Run Fly & Tackle at #110 1140 Austin Avenue in Coquitlam BC.

Good luck on the water.

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