Ling I have known

[Rob Holman]

Picked up another smallish ling on Saturday (5/31)

Saw 2-3 in the mid 20's after I shot this one (single fish limit). Going back on Friday! Only 2 more weeks left in season...

I am guessing this one to be around 12 pounds.

[fernandezh]

How was the trip? did you see any Halibuts? I hope Lings taste better than they look. :D

[Rob Holman]

I tagged this guy in about 20 feet of water about 6 miles North of Downtown Seattle. The Halibut are typically found in deeper waters to the north. They are a bit more difficult for me to get out to as I only have a 12 foot Livingston boat with a 15 horse motor! No more than 2 divers on my boat and any chop over about 2 feet makes for a dangerous situation. I like to stick close to shore.

I am trying to swing 1 more halibut trip by end of season!

Ling are great fish. They are a lot like Halibut. White, flakey meat. Not quite as firm as fresh halibut, but they taste GREAT. Much over 25 pounds and you tend to find worms in the meat. They get mushy over 25 pounds as well. I don’t like to take big ones anyway as they are the breeders. It is so easy to fish out ling cod.

[Steel Shootin']

Nice, Rob. What kind of structure do you look for ling on? Do they like ledges or other structure that would give them some protection, and attract food for them?

[Rob Holman]

The ling cod really like rocky bottom structure. They are a member of the skulpin family. True bottom fish, you will never find one in open water. They hunt by ambushing. They really like to perch in a spot and either grab smaller fish as they run by or drop like a snake from a tree on prey below. They really blend in well to the bottom. When viz is only 10-15 feet you can be right on top of them before you know it. They look like rocks or seaweed. They can be found at any depth, 10 feet, 300 feet, anywhere there are rocks. Large ones do not seem to be depth specific. They do tend to run to deep water when spooked though.

We do not have any legal open water fish to hunt in Washington of any consequence. I think it would be a real kick to go chase some of those guys like you folks have in the SE.

[fishkilla]

the way you describe the ling remind me of a fish we have over here called a lizard fish. they look similar in body shape and act exactly the same. they perch on rocks and small outcroppings waiting for small fish and crustations to swim by. i wonder if they are in the same family.

[searun]

Shot this fish on a trip with Rob abord a mutual friends boat. By the way Rob, the fish are in the Greenling family.

Shawn

[searun]

Originally posted by searun
Shot this fish on a trip with Rob aboard a mutual friends boat. By the way Rob, the fish are in the Greenling family. It was fun hunting with you.

Shawn