Pacific coast
Rockfish and lingcod
Sebastes spp., Ophiodon elongatus
The rockpile fish of the Pacific: colourful rockfish and the big-mouthed lingcod under them.
What they like
- 6–40 musual depth (they tolerate 3–120 m)
- 8–18 °Cwater temperature they feed in
- clear or coloured waterwater clarity
- drop-offs, rough bottom, deep waterbottom they hunt, in order
- any tidetide
- daylightlight
Rocky reefs, pinnacles and kelp edges in 6-40 m; seasons and depth limits apply by region.
Season by region
Peak months, shaded. Outside them the species may still be around, just less reliably.
Bait and technique
Methods: spinning / casting, bait.
Bait and lures: Shrimp flies, swimbaits, metal jigs, squid.
Technique: Vertical jig over the structure, keep the lure near the bottom; lingcod follow hooked rockfish up.
Rules
Pacific states: Seasons, depth limits and bag limits change yearly by management area (CDFW, ODFW, WDFW). Verify before you go.
Seasons, sizes and bag limits change every year and differ by zone. Check the current regulations before you keep anything.
Preferences are expert estimates from the fisheries literature and angling practice, not measurements at your spot. The likelihoods on the maps are a planning aid, not a catch prediction.