UTERLingcod fishing in Washington Coast and Puget Sound
In Washington Coast and Puget Sound, lingcod peak April–September and December–February and are around year-round, spawning in December–February, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Spawning season — the coast lingcod season opens in spring, check WDFW.
Season winding down.
Lingcod in Washington Coast and Puget Sound, month by month
- JanuarySpawningSpawning season — the coast lingcod season opens in spring, check WDFW.
- FebruarySpawning
- MarchArriving
- AprilPeakCoast lingcod open — Neah Bay, La Push and Westport rocks.
- MayPeakHalibut opens on the coast; reefs on fire. Neah Bay, La Push and Westport halibut days (quota-driven); Willapa and Columbia estuary sturgeon.
- JunePeakPeak on the outer reefs.
- JulyPeakKings and coho on the coast; odd-year pinks arrive. Sekiu and Neah Bay kings; in odd years, the first pinks; albacore 40–60+ miles off Westport.
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeavingSeason winding down.
- NovemberAround
- DecemberSpawning
Where to fish lingcod near Ilwaco, Westport, La Push
An exposed outer coast (Westport, La Push, Neah Bay), the Columbia mouth and Willapa Bay at the south end, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Puget Sound and Hood Canal — deep, cold fjords with points, kelp and steep shelves.
Fish Scouter charts 242 wreck spots in the Washington Coast & Puget Sound 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 Washington Coast and Puget Sound?
Peak season is April–September and December–February, with fish spawning in December–February (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Lingcod are here year-round. January: Spawning season — the coast lingcod season opens in spring, check WDFW.
Where do lingcod hold in Washington Coast and Puget Sound?
Look on artificial reef, ledge / hard bottom, pass / inlet — around Ilwaco, Westport, La Push, Neah Bay, Sekiu, Seattle.
What is the best bait for lingcod in Washington Coast and Puget Sound?
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 Washington Coast and Puget Sound?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and change — read the current rule at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://wdfw.wa.gov/licenses/fishing.
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All about lingcod · Washington Coast & Puget Sound, the whole year