Lingcod

📖 Overview

Ranges from the intertidal to 475 m depth . Adults are found near rocks, inshore and to 427 m . Young occur on sand or mud bottom of bays and inshore areas . Both migratory and non-migratory populations exist . Adults feed mostly on other fishes but also take crustaceans, octopi and squid . Young feed on copepods and other small crustaceans . A very important sport and commercial species . The liver is rich in vitamin A . Marketed fresh and frozen; eaten steamed, fried, broiled, boiled, microwaved and baked . Has sharp teeth and gill rakers that can cut fingers if handled.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 24 - 27; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21 - 24; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 21 - 24; Vertebrae: 55 - 59. Anal spines of adults buried in flesh, third spine closely applied to first ray . Head without scales; fleshy cirrus above each eye; large mouth; maxilla reaching almost to vertical from posterior margin of eye. Jaws with small pointed teeth interspersed with large fanglike teeth .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Lingcod is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Adult lingcod are aggressive predators. They consume other bottom-dwelling fish, including other lingcod, rockfishes, squid, octopus, and crab. They are "known to prey on almost anything they can get in their mouths." Larval lingcod feed on zooplankton, krill, and larval crustaceans, while juvenile lingcod feed on small fish. Lingcod are most vulnerable to predators as eggs and larvae. Adult males therefore guard the egg nests (see next section). But this, as well as their shoreward migration during spawning, makes them vulnerable to predation by seals, sea lions, and anglers.

🥚 Reproduction

Eggs are deposited in crevices or under rocks . Male guards the eggs until they hatch.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; oceano-estuarine ; depth range 0 - 475 m . Temperate; 61°N - 31°N, 172°W - 116°W Northeast Pacific: Shumagin Islands in the western Gulf of Alaska to Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

⚠️ Venom Profile

References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature

🎣 Angling Guide

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Lingcod is an edible species."

⚡ Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient	Amount
Protein	18.3 g
Omega-3 (total)	589 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Lingcod has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language	Common Names
🇬🇧English	Blue cod · lingcod
🌍CES	hřebeník velký
🇩🇰Danish	Lingtorsk
🇩🇪German	Lengdorsch
🇫🇷French	morue-lingue
🇯🇵Japanese	キバアイナメ
🇵🇱Polish	ofiodon
🇵🇹Portuguese	Lorcha-azul
🇷🇺Russian	Зубатый терпуг
🇪🇸Spanish	molva
🇨🇳Chinese	蛇鱈 · 長蛇齒單線魚 · 龍躉魚

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 25 records indexed .

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