Females generally produce 60,000 to 500,000 eggs, depending on individual body size. The fertilized eggs attach to the rocky substrate, usually in large masses, up to 30 pounds of eggs in one mass. Males can spawn with more than one female in the same egg mass. The male guards the nest and apparently fans or moves water over the eggs with his tail. The eggs commonly hatch in six weeks, and sexual maturity is commonly reached in 2-3 years.
Lingcod begin life in near-surface marine waters and estuarine areas.
As juveniles lingcod primarily use estuaries, while adults are usually found in marine waters of 100-150 M deep. Conception, California to Cape Spencer, Alaska. Larvae are found in the near-surface marine waters and estuarine areas. In this life-stage, lingcod feed primarily on copepods, eggs, and other crustaceans. As it matures, lingcod are commonly found in shallow, inter-tidal areas of bays near algae and seagrass beds.