UTERLingcod fishing in Central California Coast
In Central California Coast, lingcod peak January–November and are around year-round, spawning in January–March, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Spawning and guarding nests — boat groundfish closed in winter in the Central area; check CDFW.
Rockfish and lingcod; the last albacore and halibut. Big Sur and Monterey reefs for rockfish and lings moving shallow; last albacore before the fall wind.
Lingcod in Central California Coast, month by month
- JanuarySpawningSpawning and guarding nests — boat groundfish closed in winter in the Central area; check CDFW.
- FebruarySpawning
- MarchSpawning
- AprilPeakBoat groundfish opens (April 1 in recent years) — swimbaits and live sanddabs on the rocks off Monterey, Morro Bay and the Farallones.
- MayPeakKings on the anchovy off the Gate; halibut on the Bay flats. Troll or mooch anchovy under the birds off Half Moon Bay; drift live anchovy for halibut on the Berkeley Flats.
- JunePeakBig Sur and Point Sur reefs; Farallones lings.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeakGood with the lingcod shifting shallow.
- OctoberPeakRockfish and lingcod; the last albacore and halibut. Big Sur and Monterey reefs for rockfish and lings moving shallow; last albacore before the fall wind.
- NovemberPeakPre-spawn lings move shallow and get aggressive.
- DecemberAround
Where to fish lingcod near Morro Bay, Monterey, Santa Cruz
A rugged, cold coast of kelp and granite — Big Sur, Monterey Bay's submarine canyon, Half Moon Bay, the Farallones — and San Francisco Bay, San Pablo and Suisun Bays running up into the Delta.
Fish Scouter charts 175 wreck, 1 ledge / hard bottom, 1 artificial reef spots in the Central Coast & San Francisco Bay map area — the kinds lingcod hold on.
What to use for lingcod
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- HerringCut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run.
- Leader30–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook2/0–7/0
- Braid30–65 lb
Feeds in 42–60°F water, best at 46–54°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch lingcod in Central California Coast?
Peak season is January–November, with fish spawning in January–March (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Lingcod are here year-round. January: Spawning and guarding nests — boat groundfish closed in winter in the Central area; check CDFW.
Where do lingcod hold in Central California Coast?
Look on artificial reef, ledge / hard bottom, wreck, pass / inlet — around Morro Bay, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, Berkeley.
What is the best bait for lingcod in Central California Coast?
Live bait: squid, herring. Squid: Strips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig. Tackle: leader 30–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 2/0–7/0, braid 30–65 lb.
What are the rules for lingcod in Central California Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and change — read the current rule at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing.
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All about lingcod · Central Coast & San Francisco Bay, the whole year