|
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. PHOTO BY: blackcormorant.net |
|
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: |
Mid-March through October |
|
Taste: |
Succulent white meat |
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 from
Kodiak Island to northern
Baja; possibly the Bering Sea. Adults near rocks; inshore and to 1400 feet..
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 |
