Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus)

Photo by Mike Carr on iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0

FishActive now (September)

Lingcod

Ophiodon elongatus

When
May–Oct — May, June, July, August, September, October. Earlier in the south, later in the north.
Where it holds
Rocky reefs and pinnacles along the Pacific coast.
How to know it
A big mottled head full of teeth, long body, and flesh that is sometimes bright blue-green (harmless — it cooks white).
What to know
An ambush predator that will follow a hooked rockfish to the surface.
The tactic
Heavy jigs bounced on the reef; swimbaits on a lead head.

Seasons, size limits and catch limits change every year and differ by water body. Check the current regulations for your province or state before you fish.

Found in these regions

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Also active in September