Lingcod

Ophiodon elongatus

Lingcod

Ophiodon elongatus

Other Common Names
Cultus cod, buckethead, green cod, buffalo cod

Halibut Flats

Other Common Names

Cultus cod, buckethead, green cod, buffalo cod

At the Aquarium

Halibut Flats

Appearance

Lingcod are dark gray, brown, or greenish on the back with some copper-colored mottling or spotting along the upper back. The belly is lighter and they have a prominent whitish lateral line. The body is covered with round scales.

This species has a large head and mouth with 18 large, sharp teeth.

Their long bodies narrow toward the tail and can grow up to 5 feet. Lingcod can weigh up to 80 pounds with females being larger than males.

Habitat

Rocky reefs and kelp beds at depths from 30 to 330 feet.

Diet

Bottom-dwelling prey including fish, squid, octopi, and crab.

Life History

Males begin reproducing when they are about 2 years old and almost 20 inches long. Females are able to reproduce when they are 3 years old and 30 inches long.

In late fall, males gather and become territorial over spawning areas. These areas are usually shallow, rocky habitats. Females briefly visit spawning areas during winter and spring to deposit their eggs in crevices and under ledges. Males guard the nests for 8 to 10 weeks until the eggs hatch. Eggs hatch between January and June.

After hatching, larvae live near the surface of the ocean. Juveniles settle on nearshore, sandy ocean bottoms near eelgrass or kelp beds. Males don’t usually move far from where they are born. Immature fish sometimes migrate more than 60 miles and females migrate seasonally to spawn.

Lingcod can live more than 20 years.

IUCN Status

Not Evaluated

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Juvenile and adult lingcod are prey for marine mammals, sharks, seabirds and other finfish.

Lingcod are caught in both commercial and recreational fisheries. In 2023, commercial landings of lingcod totaled 2 million pounds and were valued at $2.8 million.

In Alaska, lingcod have been harvested for centuries by the indigenous coastal populations of Southeast, Southcentral, and Western Alaska.

From Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska down to Baja California. Most abundant near British Columbia and Washington.

Lingcod are found along the Oregon coast. Adults prefer to be near rocks and inshore. Young lingcod like the sand or mud bottoms of bays and inshore areas.

Despite its name, the lingcod is neither a cod nor a ling. They belong to the family Hexagrammidae.

Citations & Other Resources

NOAA Fisheries. N.d. Lingcod. Species Directory. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/lingcod
Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. N.d. Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus). https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/ophiodon-elongatus#desc-range
Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. N.d. Lingcod. https://myodfw.com/fishing/species/lingcod
California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2021. Lingcod. Marine Species Portal. https://marinespecies.wildlife.ca.gov/lingcod/false/

Lingcod

Lingcod

Other Common Names

At the Aquarium

Appearance

Habitat

Diet

Life History

IUCN Status

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Citations & Other Resources

Contact Us

Subscribe to E-Newsletter

About Oregon Coast Aquarium