They move from deep, cavernous, rocky offshore areas ranging from a few hundred feet to a maximum of 6,600 feet, into shallower, male-dominated bachelor bottoms. The lingcod will spawn in the shallowest areas throughout offshore and inshore banks and reefs. During spawning times, anglers can expect to catch female as well as male lingcod without having to fish very deep. With avid lingcod anglers, it's the spawning season that affords anglers the opportunity to catch trophy-sized lings. It's also the time to think about conserving the resource.
Lingcod are slow growers, especially large lady lings.
Jadiello says male lingcod grow at the rate of roughly one-inch per year for the first five years. Females, he says, grow slightly faster, until they get older, at which time both sexes don't add as much length as they did in their early years. While few anglers ever see lingcod over 50 pounds, a few rare specimens could weigh 100-pounds. Male lingcod grow old like the female, but they seldom weigh more than 20-pounds. Knowing this can aid anglers in their decision to catch and keep or catch and release broodstock female lings.