Well now, if ya wanna catch one of them lingcods, it’s not too tricky, but ya gotta know a thing or two about where they hang out and what they like to munch on. First off, you gotta find them good old fishing spots where the bottom’s got some structure—like rocks, ledges, or maybe a drop-off. Them lingcods, they love to hide around places like that. After you find your spot, just drift along with your bait, keepin’ it close to the bottom where they’re sittin’. If ya got a lure, just dangle it right near the ocean floor, and you’ll be in business! You’ll get a bite, just you wait.
Now, when it comes to bait, that’s where ya gotta be a little smart. Lingcods, they love the taste of a struggling fish. A sanddab or a greenling? That’ll get ’em hooked up right quick. If you ain’t got none of those around, don’t worry, ’cause live bait works just fine too! Ya can use a small fish like a rockfish, a sanddab, or even a big ol’ mackerel. The live ones are usually your best bet, but ya can also use dead bait if that’s all you got. Just remember, the fresher, the better!
If you’re out there in Southern California or Baja, ya won’t go wrong with a nice big live mackerel. Just hook ’em through the lips, drop ’em to the bottom on a one or two hook dropper loop, and let it sit about one crank off the ocean floor. Most of the time, you’ll get a bite real quick, like in under five minutes if there’s any lingcod around.
Best Baits for Lingcod
- Live Bait: Lingcod can’t resist live fish like herring, mackerel, or even rockfish. They’ll go after anything that looks like it’s struggling to survive.
- Dead Bait: If live bait ain’t available, you can still catch ’em with dead herring or squid. Sometimes, they ain’t picky.
- Squid: Squid’s another good one for lingcod. They’ll take a bite if you fish it on the bottom with a sliding sinker rig.
Now, when you’re rigging up, you don’t need no fancy stuff. Just a regular ol’ fishing hook in the size 5/0 to 6/0 will do. The weights, well, a 4 to 8-ounce weight should be plenty heavy enough to get down to where them fish are. And don’t forget a leader, ’bout 30 inches long, that’ll help keep your bait from getting tangled up in the line.
If you got yourself a jig, go ahead and use it! There’s all sorts of ’em out there, like them soft plastics or them metal jigs. Ain’t no harm in tryin’ a few different things ’til ya find what works. Sometimes they’ll go for a metal jig, other times they’ll like the soft plastic better. It’s all about finding what the fish are biting that day!
So, all in all, fishing for lingcod is pretty simple if you know where to look and what to use. Just find a nice rocky spot or a ledge where they like to hide, drop your bait down near the bottom, and wait for the tug. Make sure to have some live bait, maybe a sanddab or a greenling, and you’re good to go. If that ain’t working, try a big ol’ mackerel or some squid and give it another shot. No matter what, you’re sure to have yourself a good time fishing for those lingcods!
Happy fishing!
Tags：[lingcod fishing, fishing for lingcod, lingcod bait, fishing tips, live bait for lingcod, best bait for lingcod, how to fish lingcod]
