Lingcod

Long, mottled brown-gray greenling (not a true cod) with a huge mouth, big sharp teeth and a long dorsal fin. Some have blue-green flesh — it is safe and turns white when cooked.

5–20 lb.

About 5 ft and 80 lb.

Small fish, crabs, shrimp, squid, octopus and other rockfish.

Lives on rocky reefs, pinnacles and kelp; most stay close to the bottom near cover.

Found from Southern California, Central & Northern California and Oregon & Washington. Rocky reefs, pinnacles and jetties from Baja to Alaska; most common from Monterey north.

Rocky reefs, pinnacles and jetties from Baja to Alaska; most common from Monterey north.

30–300 ft; shallower in winter when they spawn.

20–200 ft on rocky bottom; where depth limits apply you may only fish shallower than the line.

When the season is open — rockfish and lingcod seasons and depth limits are set each year by each state.

Daylight.

Light current so the boat drifts slowly over the reef.

Calm seas — this is open-ocean fishing on an often rough coast.

Live rockfish, sanddabs or greenling (where legal), herring and big squid.

Heavy swimbaits and jig heads, leadhead jigs with a big grub, and metal jigs.

Medium-heavy 7 ft rod with a conventional or large spinning reel.

Shrimp-fly rigs, 2/0–6/0 hooks, and 4–12 oz jigs.

30–50 lb braid.

30–50 lb mono.

Bounce a heavy jig right on the rocky bottom and lift it every few seconds. When a ling grabs a small fish you have hooked, keep reeling slowly — it often won't let go until it's at the boat.

In winter the males guard the egg masses in shallow water — leave nesting males alone.

Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.

Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.

Firm, white, mild meat — great for fish and chips, tacos and grilling.

Venomous-feeling dorsal spines on rockfish; fish brought up from deep water can get barotrauma — use a descending device to release them.

Each state sets a minimum size, bag limit, season and depth limits for lingcod. Check CDFW, ODFW or WDFW. Licenses, size and bag limits and seasons are set by each state — the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (wildlife.ca.gov), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (myodfw.com) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (wdfw.wa.gov) — together with NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Rules change often, and many areas are no-take marine reserves: check before you go.

Keep only what you'll eat, release the rest quickly, and follow size and bag limits.