Species profile
Burbot
Lota lota
At a glance
Burbot (Lota lota) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 18 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (British Columbia); the most generous is 50 (Pennsylvania).
Confirmed by 673 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Ontario, Alberta, and Minnesota the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- The only freshwater member of the cod family — essentially a true freshwater cod.
- Spawns under ice in midwinter, one of the few fish to breed in near-freezing water.
- Can grow to 3 feet (90 cm) long and weigh over 20 pounds.
- Has a single fleshy barbel on its chin, just like its ocean-dwelling cod relatives.
- Its liver is exceptionally rich in vitamins A and D, long prized by Indigenous peoples.
Where Burbot are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Burbot
Background
The burbot (Lota lota) is the only gadiform (cod-like) freshwater fish. It is also known as bubbot, mariah, freshwater ling, the lawyer, coney-fish, lingcod, freshwater cusk, and eelpout. The species is closely related to the marine common ling and the cusk. It is the only member of the genus Lota. For some time of the year, the burbot lives under ice, and they require frigid temperatures to…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Burbot article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.