UTERLingcod fishing in Northern California Coast
In Northern California Coast, lingcod peak January–March and May–October and are around year-round, spawning in January–March, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: On the nests; boat groundfish closed in winter — check CDFW.
Lings moving shallow ahead of the spawn.
Lingcod in Northern California Coast, month by month
- JanuarySpawningOn the nests; boat groundfish closed in winter — check CDFW.
- FebruarySpawning
- MarchSpawning
- AprilArrivingPacific halibut opens; redtail perch on the beaches. Halibut on the 150–300 ft flats off Eureka and Trinidad when the swell allows.
- MayPeakFort Bragg, Shelter Cove and Trinidad rocks — big jigs and a live greenling.
- JunePeakKings, halibut and rockfish — pick your calm day. Troll bait on the 20–40 fathom line for kings; drift herring for halibut; rock-hop for cabezon.
- JulyPeakPeak kings off Fort Bragg and Shelter Cove. The Klamath zone closes fast on quota — check CDFW. Rockfish limits on calm summer days.
- AugustPeakPeak on the outer pinnacles on calm days.
- SeptemberPeakKlamath and Smith fall kings; albacore peak. Kings stacked off the Smith and in the Klamath estuary; tuna on calm days.
- OctoberPeakLings moving shallow ahead of the spawn.
- NovemberAroundFirst winter steelhead; pre-spawn lings. Steelhead enter after the first big rain; lingcod before the closure.
- DecemberAround
Where to fish lingcod near Bodega Bay, Fort Bragg, Shelter Cove
An exposed, wild coast of rocky headlands, pinnacles and a few harbors — Bodega, Noyo, Shelter Cove, Humboldt Bay, Crescent City — with the Eel, Klamath and Smith rivers coming out through sand bars.
Fish Scouter charts 36 wreck spots in the The North Coast 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 Northern California Coast?
Peak season is January–March and May–October, with fish spawning in January–March (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Lingcod are here year-round. January: On the nests; boat groundfish closed in winter — check CDFW.
Where do lingcod hold in Northern California Coast?
Look on artificial reef, ledge / hard bottom, pass / inlet — around Bodega Bay, Fort Bragg, Shelter Cove, Eureka, Trinidad, Crescent City.
What is the best bait for lingcod in Northern 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 Northern 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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