LINGCOD  (Ophiodon elong-atus)

Color:	Dark brownish‑green with copper blotches	Lingcod are an excellent sport fish that put up a worthy fight when hooked.  The rewards of landing one go from beyond a glimpse at an interesting bottom dweller and onto the dinner table.  In fact, some people even prefer them to halibut.
Size:	Average 20 - 30 lbs, 20 - 35 inches Up to 60+ lbs
Method:	Bottom fishing from a boat with bait such as herring, jigging or mooching
Gear:	Medium- to heavy-action rods and reels
Range:	Aleutians, Kodiak Island, Kenai Peninsula, Southeast
Season:	Year-round
Taste:	Succulent white meat Recipes
Record:	67 lbs., near Sitka by Clint Hooper, 1993
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Appearance

Lingcod belong to the Hexagrammid family and are not a true cod.  Body color ranges from an overall dark brownish-green characterized with patterns of copper blotches.  The only exception is the undersides of the gill plates, which are usually white.  Lingcod have a lengthy dorsal fin that is equal to ¾ of the fish’s overall length.  The fish has two sets of large pectoral fins; adding to its aggressive maneuverability.  As a predator, the bottom dwellers are armed with a large mouth that sports 18 sharp teeth.

Location

Lingcod have been found at depths of up to 1,000 feet, however, they are usually found around rocky reefs between 30 and 330 feet.  They are prevalent in the saltwater of Prince William Sound, the Aleutians, Kenai Peninsula and Southeast Alaska.

Diet

Lingcod primarily eat other live fish and will begin predation within their first year, at which time they are only 3 inches in length.

Angling Method

Jigging from a boat with bait near the bottom or around rocky reefs is a popular way to find lingcod.  Mooching with herring or other bait is also successful.  When playing in other species of fish, such as rock fish, lingcod will sometimes bite your catch.   

Life History

Most lingcod populations begin spawning in early December through January.  Females mature between 3 to 5 years, at which time they span 24 to 30 inches.  Males mature more rapidly and are capable of reproduction by age 2, at which time they are 20 inches. 

Prior to spawning, females and males gather along reefs subjected to strong tidal currents.  The wave action is necessary to aerate the eggs and stimulate growth.  Actual spawning closely mimics that of other fish.  However¸ the male fiercely guards the fertilized eggs until they hatch; 5 to 11 weeks on average.  If the male were to leave, the eggs would most likely be consumed by predators such as rockfish, starfish, sculpins, kelp greenling, and cod within 48 hours.  The aggressive nature of the male may keep such threats away, but the father’s confrontational behavior can also be his doom.  For instance, a battle with a seal or sea lion will usually not end in his favor.

Newly hatched lingcod are ¼ to ½ inch in length and are unable to move about on their own.  Instead, they rely on surface currents to move them through areas of food; usually copepods and other larval fish.  Within a few months, the lingcod will average three inches in length and will be able to break free from the surface currents.  At this stage, the fish become true predators as they settle into kelp beds to consume juvenile herring. Young lingcod will continue to favor shallow water until about the age of two, at which time they will move into adult habitats. 

The oldest recorded lingcod is 25 years and the largest one caught commercially has been 85 pounds.

Fish Alaska Magazine