General description: Lingcod (Ophiodon elong-atus) belong to the Hexagrammids, a family of fish unique to the west coast of North America. Unlike their name implies, they are not true cods, but are greenlings. They can be found from the Alaska Peninsula/Aleutian Islands south to Baja California. They are common throughout Southeast Alaska, the outer Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak, and Prince William Sound. While found to depths of 1,000 feet (300 m), lingcod more typically inhabit nearshore rocky reefs from 30 to 330 feet (10–100 m). Lingcod are voracious predators and can grow to weigh over 80 pounds (35 kg) and measure 60 inches (150 cm) in length. They are characterized by a large mouth with 18 sharp teeth. Their color is variable, usually with dark brown or copper blotches arranged in clusters.

Reproduction: Male and female lingcod mature at different lengths and ages. Female lingcod begin to mature at 3 to 5 years of age at an average length of 24 to 30 inches (60-75 cm). Males begin to mature at age 2 at a length of 20 inches (50 cm). Fecundity (the number of eggs per mature female) increases with both size and age. Along the Alaska coast, lingcod begin spawning in early December, with peak spawning occurring from mid-January to mid-March. During spawning, male and female lingcod gather along rocky reefs affected by wave action or strong tidal currents. After the eggs are deposited and fertilized in nests in crevices along the reefs, the female lingcod disperse to other areas and leave the male lingcod to guard the egg nests until the eggs hatch. It takes from 5 to 11 weeks for eggs to hatch. Thus, while most egg masses hatch between mid-March and mid-May, some hatching occurs into June. Factors influencing egg development include temperature and degree of aeration of the egg masses. Spawning success of lingcod is highly variable from year to year.

Early life history: Larval lingcod are a total length of 1/4 to 1/2 inch (6–10 mm) when they hatch. After hatching, the larval lingcod are pelagic. As a result, they are at the mercy of the surface current. During this period, the larval lingcod grow rapidly as they feed primarily on copepods and other larval fish. By mid-summer, at lengths of about 3 inches (80 mm), the larval lingcod settle on the bottom in kelp or eelgrass beds and begin feeding on juvenile herring or other small fish. By age 2, the juvenile lingcod begin to use habitats similar to those used by adult lingcod, though in shallower water. Their diet begins to resemble that of adult lingcod.

Adult life history: Size increases rapidly during the first years of life. Throughout this period, both sexes display similar growth patterns. However, by about age 4, female lingcod begin to grow faster than the males. The maximum age of lingcod reported is 25 years. The largest reported fish ever caught was 60 inches long (150 cm) and weighed 85 pounds (32 kg). Adult lingcod are voracious predators and eat almost anything, including other lingcod. They appear to remain relatively sedentary and do not appear to wander far from their home reef.

Natural predators: Lingcod are most vulnerable to predation during the egg and larval life stages. Egg nests, if left unguarded, are generally decimated within 48 hours by rockfish, starfish, sculpins, kelp greenling, and cod. The presence of a male to guard the nest from these predators appears essential for successful spawning. Unfortunately, nest-guarding males are extremely aggressive and vulnerable to predation by seals, sea lions, and fishers. Removal of a male during the nest-guarding period not only results in removal of the fish from the adult spawning population but also results in the likely loss of that male’s nest, thereby affecting future recruitment. Larval and juvenile lingcod are preyed upon by fishes such as salmon, rockfish, and other lingcod.

Human use: Lingcod are extremely aggressive and provide an excellent fight. Once landed, they provide a tasty meal. Because of these characteristics, lingcod are highly sought by recreational anglers throughout their range. Both recreational and commercial fishers target this species.

Management: Lingcod are highly susceptible to overfishing. In some areas along the Pacific Northwest coast (including Puget Sound, the Strait of Georgia, and near Resurrection Bay) lingcod have been overharvested. Once overharvested, lingcod require long periods to recover.

To protect this species from overharvest, fisheries are conservatively managed. The current management approach is to assure sufficient fish are present in the spawning population to ensure future recruitment. This is done in three ways. 1) Protect spawning and nest-guarding fish. In many areas, sport and commercial fisheries are closed during the spawning and nest-guarding periods. 2) Allow fish to spawn at least once before being subject to harvest. Minimum size limits are established for both sport and commercial fisheries. 3) Restrict catch limits. In many areas, the sport fishery is restricted by daily bag and possession limits. Commercial fisheries are restricted by catch and bycatch quotas. To assure for the long-term health of lingcod stocks, we ask that you abide by these regulations and take only what is needed.

Text: Doug Vincent-Lang
Illustration: Detlef Buettner
1994