From Reef to Recipe: Everything You Need to Know About Lingcod Biology and Fishing in Washington

If you’ve been out on the water lately, you know its lingcod season here in the Pacific Northwest—and this year has been a blast. For Scott and I, it’s been nonstop fishing this season in the San Juan Islands. We’re halfway through the lingcod season and it’s already one for the books. So in this post, I want to share a few wild, wonderful, and maybe even weird facts about lingcod—facts that will make you a better angler, a better steward of the fishery, and maybe even the hero at your next fish fry. I LOVE learning about the animals we target. Not only are they amazing to eat, a ton of fun to catch, but they are in integral part of the ecosystem we all love so much! So if you are a science nerd like me, then this blog post is for you. 🙂

Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve already got a few ling limits under your belt this season, you'll get something fun to share out of this I am sure..

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The Blue Flesh Mystery

Let’s start with one of the most asked about lingcod facts: the blue flesh. Yep—about 20% of lingcod you catch will have this teal-green, almost glowing tint in their meat. It freaks people out if they’ve never seen it. I’ve had people ask if it’s safe to eat or if something’s wrong with the fish.

The good news? It’s totally safe. The color comes from a pigment called biliverdin (google the correct pronunciation and wow your friends), which scientists think is related to diet, genetics, or liver function. When you cook it, the color disappears and it turns white just like any other fillet. And no, it doesn’t taste any different—we’ve done side-by-side taste tests.

So next time you fillet a lingcod and see that beautiful blue-green glow, snap a picture, tell your buddies, and enjoy every bite.

Nest Defenders of the Deep

Here’s another fun one: male lingcod are total badasses when it comes to protecting their young. Every winter—usually starting in December—males move inshore to find shallow rocky reefs or crevices where females can lay their eggs. Once the eggs are laid, the females leave... and the males take over.

For the next 6 to 11 weeks, those guys go into full-on nest-guarding mode. No food. No breaks. Just relentless defense against predators. If you’ve ever wondered why we don’t fish for lingcod in winter, this is it. If you remove a male from his nest during that time, those eggs don’t stand a chance and will quickly get gobbled up by predators.

That’s why the season opens in May—so those guys can get the job done and repopulate pinnacles for seasons to come. WDFW Species Profile

The Lingcod Lifecycle (and Why It Matters for Anglers)

Lingcod start life as tiny larvae drifting in the current after hatching from large sticky egg masses laid in winter. After a few weeks, they settle into protected areas like eelgrass beds, kelp forests, or even tube worm colonies.

By the time they’re 2–3 inches long, they start transitioning to deeper water. Within a year or two, they’re living on rocky reefs. By age 3 to 5, females mature and are able to spawn. That’s also when they start moving even deeper—which is one reason we don’t fish below 120 feet. Big females are crucial to the fishery’s future, and keeping them in the water is one of the best things we can do as anglers.

Lingcod can live up to 20 years. So if you catch a big, girthy one above the slot limit? She’s probably an old breeder. Snap your pic and get her back in the water quickly and gently. That’s how we keep these spots fishable for years to come.

We recently caught a 48in ling, if you want to see what it’s like to hook and release one of these big girls, you can check out that post here.

Homebodies of the Reef

Here’s a tip that can seriously change your fishing game: lingcod don’t move much. Once they settle on a good reef, they tend to stick to it like a bear to its den. Studies show they rarely move more than a few hundred yards.

That means when you find a productive reef, mark it. Because unless something changes drastically, you can come back to that same spot season after season and have success. But it also means those areas are sensitive. If overfished, they don’t bounce back quickly.

This is why we respect slot limits and depth restrictions—and why Marine Protected Areas make such a difference.

–NOAA's Species Directory - Lingcod

Opportunistic, Aggressive Feeders

Lingcod are some of the most aggressive, ambush-style predators in the Salish Sea. They’re not picky either. Here’s what’s on the menu:

• Pacific herring

• Sand lance

• Greenlings

• Juvenile rockfish

• Squid and octopus

• Even other lingcod

Their motto seems to be: If it fits in my mouth, I’m eating it.

Scott and I don’t use bait much—we stick with big swimbaits and lead-head jigs because they let us move fast and cover water efficiently. One thing we do that makes a big difference: we always fish with different colors. If Scott’s getting more bites (which he was last time out, 5-to-1), I switch colors to match his. It works!

We also open up the bellies when we get back to see what they were feeding on. If you find herring in there, bring herring-pattern lures next time. If you find an octopus or a sand dab—adjust accordingly. Match the hatch.

Also…fun fact? One time we caught a lingcod that had a full-size coho in its stomach. No joke. These fish go big.

Let’s Talk Worms

I had someone message me recently after her daughter caught her first lingcod. They were so stoked…until her girl saw a worm in the fillet. I thought this would be a great topic to touch on, so let’s clear this up:

Yes, lingcod often have worms in the meat. So do halibut. So do salmon. It’s just part of wild seafood.

These are typically roundworms—small, white, coiled little guys that live in the muscle tissue or body cavity. The older and larger the fish, the more worms you might see. These worms are not dangerous as long as you cook your fish to 145°F or freeze it for seven days before eating raw (like in ceviche).

We just pick them out when we see them and move on. It’s normal. And here’s a fun fact: in a University of Washington study in 2019, they actually found that higher parasite levels often correlate with a healthier marine ecosystem. So don’t freak out—celebrate that you're eating wild food from a thriving environment.

Final Thoughts

Lingcod are more than just a good fight and a tasty fillet. They’re wild, weird, and wonderful fish that reward anglers who take the time to learn how they live. By understanding their biology, respecting the regulations, and fishing with intention, we can all catch more fish and leave the fishery better than we found it.

Want more tips like this? Join our Anglers Unlimited Free Facebook Group where we share each podcast episode every week.

Until next time!