UTERLingcod fishing in Southern California
In Southern California, lingcod peak January–February and April–November and are around year-round, spawning in January–February, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Lings on the nests; boat groundfish is closed part of the winter in California — check CDFW's Southern management area table.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Lingcod in Southern California, month by month
- JanuarySpawningLings on the nests; boat groundfish is closed part of the winter in California — check CDFW's Southern management area table.
- FebruarySpawningSpawning; shore anglers and divers have different rules.
- MarchArrivingThe squid spawn brings white seabass into the kelp; rockfish open. Live squid in the kelp at night at Catalina and the Ventura beds — one-fish seabass bag south of Point Conception from March 15 to June 15. Rockfish on the deep reefs.
- AprilPeakOpen water: big swimbaits and live mackerel on the high spots off the Channel Islands.
- MayPeak
- JunePeakDeeper high spots at the islands.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberPeakLate lings on the rock piles before the winter closure.
- DecemberAround
Where to fish lingcod near San Diego, Dana Point, Long Beach
A sheltered bight of kelp forests, sand flats and harbors, with the Channel Islands, Catalina and San Clemente 20–60 miles out and the offshore banks (Tanner, Cortes, the 9-Mile, the 43) beyond. The long-range sportboat fleet out of San Diego is its heart.
Fish Scouter charts 227 wreck, 76 artificial reef, 16 ledge / hard bottom spots in the Southern California Bight 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 Southern California?
Peak season is January–February and April–November, with fish spawning in January–February (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Lingcod are here year-round. January: Lings on the nests; boat groundfish is closed part of the winter in California — check CDFW's Southern management area table.
Where do lingcod hold in Southern California?
Look on artificial reef, ledge / hard bottom, wreck — around San Diego, Dana Point, Long Beach, Marina del Rey, Oxnard, Santa Barbara.
What is the best bait for lingcod in Southern California?
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 Southern California?
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 · Southern California Bight, the whole year