We'll be walking through our top 10 tips when fishing for ling cod. Fishing for ling cod brings a bit of mystery and excitement to your fishing trip. While ling cod aren't particularly well known for their fight, it's always a mystery how big your ling cod really is until it comes to the surface.
Here's a quick run-down of our top 10 tips when fishing for ling cod.
Top 10 Ling Cod Fishing Tips
- Rocks are your friend (and enemy!)
- Find the rockfish
- Use good hardware
- Bait, lures, and jigs all work
- Gaff, gloves, and pliers
- Reel in steadily
- Don't break the surface
- Bleed your catch
- Consider catch and release for slobs
- Know your local regulations and have fun
Rocks are your friend (and enemy!)
Ling cod tend to live in and around rock piles throughout the Pacific ocean. They can be found at depths from 25 feet all the way to 1200 feet of depth. Ling cod live in the crevices around rock piles. Their skin provides a strong camouflage reflecting their environment.
Rocks also present a lot of problems for anglers fishing for ling cod. Snags and hang-ups can be endless. Use braided line to keep a better feel for the bottom as mono tends to stretch out. Try to make occasional contact with the bottom, but avoid dragging your lure or bait at all costs.
Find the rockfish
One of the main foods for the large predatory ling cod is rockfish. Ling cod are known for being "hitchhikers", where they will bite on a hooked rockfish and hold on all the way to the surface. If you're catching a lot of rockfish, there's a strong possibility ling cod are nearby.
Use good hardware
Ling cod are a tough fish with giant mouths and jaws. They even have a second set of crusher teeth at the back of their throat that can easily smash a clam shell or cut off your finger. Using good hardware ensures you'll land your big ling cod without getting bitten off. Check and replace your leader line regularly to make sure there's no teeth marks from ling cod or abrasions from drifting over rocks.
Bait, lures, and jigs all work
Ling cod are not the smartest fish species in the sea. They will strike a wide variety of different baits, lures, and jigs. Depending on the conditions, you may want to change up your ling cod rig.
Some of the best bait for big ling cod is rockfish. Many anglers will use squid strips to hook smaller rockfish and leave them near the bottom in the big ling cod target zone.
Different lures work for ling cod fishing from paddle tails to large squid setups. In general, big lures catch big ling cod. For shallower conditions under 300 feet, try using more dull colored lures. For deep water, try more reflective or bring lures.
Jigs are the most traditional style of fishing for ling cod. Simply drop the jig down and work it up and down as you drift over a large rock pile, but be careful not to drag on the bottom.
Gaff, gloves and pliers
A big ling cod can reach up to 50 pounds, with records in the 80 pound range. Always be sure to pack the necessary tools to land a ling cod safely for both you and the fish. Ling cod have giant mouths that are generally easy to de-hook. However you may want a pair of pliers that is a little longer as these fish have massive mouths several inches deep.
You may also want a pair of gloves when filleting a ling cod, as their skin can be slimy and difficult to get a grip on.
Depending on your district, ling cod may also carry a size limit or season, so having the right tools to be able to safely release a non-legal lingcod is very important.
Reel in steadily
Ling cod bite down hard on their prey and don't let go. Think of them as the Pitbulls of the ocean. Once they latch on, all you have to do is reel steadily to the boat or shore. Do not yank on the line or try to set the hook, these fish are aggressive and will undoubtedly hook themselves.
If you're jigging and feel a strong "weight" on your jig, it's probably a ling cod. You should stop jigging and start to reel up steadily to confirm your suspicion.
Don't break the surface
Ling cod will hold onto just about anything so long as they don't hit the surface of the water. Almost always, a ling cod that hits the surface will flail and try to spit the hook, which they do successfully quite often.
When the ling cod is approaching the boat, make sure you have your gaff at the ready. Typically, as soon as you can see any color and size, you should be reaching for a gaff or net just in case. Once the fish is just below the surface, stop reeling and begin moving the fish in a figure-8 pattern to keep tension while not bringing it to the surface.
Try to gaff or net your ling cod just below the surface or right as the fish hits the surface.
Bleed your catch
Ling cod are known for being large, predatory fish that can become gamey when they get to larger sizes. It's always suggested to bleed these fish once they're on board and measured for legality.
Consider catch and release for slobs
Female ling cod tend to far outweigh male ling cod. If you catch a ling cod over 15 pounds, it is more than likely a female.
These older ling cod are not only less tasty for eating, but they play an important role in the replenishment of your local fishery.
Know your local regulations and have fun!
Make sure to always know your local regulations and restrictions when going out ling cod fishing.