Species profile
Lingcod
Ophiodon elongatus
Identify Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 6 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) is a bony-fish species regulated in 6 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Alaska); the most generous is 10 (Federal Waters (DFO)).
Across 5 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 25.1 in (≈ 2 ft 1 in).
Confirmed by 3,244 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with British Columbia, California, and Washington the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Despite the name, lingcod is not a true cod — it belongs to the greenling family.
- Roughly one in five lingcod has striking blue-green flesh caused by the bile pigment biliverdin.
- Females can reach 5 feet long and weigh over 80 pounds; males are much smaller.
- Males guard and fan fertilized egg masses through winter until they hatch.
- Can live over 20 years and has a mouth large enough to engulf fish nearly half its own size.
Where Lingcod are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Lingcod
Background
The lingcod or ling cod (Ophiodon elongatus), also known as the buffalo cod or cultus cod, is a fish of the greenling family Hexagrammidae. It is the only extant member of the genus Ophiodon. A slightly larger, extinct species, Ophiodon ozymandias, is known from fossils from the Late Miocene of Southern California.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Lingcod article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Lingcod?
Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) is a bony-fish species regulated in 6 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Lingcod?
Lingcod is Ophiodon elongatus.
Is Lingcod regulated for fishing?
Yes — Lingcod has fishing regulations in 6 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Lingcod?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Lingcod along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.