California · Northern California
LINGCOD FISHING
IN BODEGA BAY
Bodega Bay is an excellent destination for lingcod fishing, with peak season in May, June and good catches in March, April, July. Book a charter and target lingcod with local experts.
About Lingcod Fishing in Bodega Bay
The toothy lingcod is a fearsome ambush predator found on rocky reefs and kelp forests from Southern California to Alaska. These aggressive fish are known for striking at hooked rockfish and can be caught jigging, trolling, or drift fishing. Their mild, white flesh is considered among the finest eating on the Pacific coast.
Lingcod are fearsome-looking ambush predators that patrol rocky reefs, kelp forests, and pinnacles from Southern California to Alaska. Despite the name, they are neither ling nor cod — they are the largest member of the greenling family. Lingcod have a massive head with a jaw full of sharp, conical teeth, a mottled brown-gray body, and large pectoral fins. Their most striking feature is their occasionally blue-green colored flesh (caused by a harmless bile pigment), which turns white when cooked and is considered among the finest eating fish on the Pacific coast.
Scientific name: Ophiodon elongatus
Lingcod Seasonal Calendar — Bodega Bay
Month-by-month availability for lingcod in Bodega Bay, CA.
How to Catch Lingcod in Bodega Bay
Techniques & Bait
Jigging heavy metal jigs (6-16 oz Crippled Herring, Luhr-Jensen Pipe Jig, Diamond Jigs) over rocky structure in 60-200 feet is the primary technique. Swimbaits (6-10 inch) on heavy jigheads worked along the bottom are deadly. Lingcod are notorious for grabbing hooked rockfish — many are caught "hitchhiking" on a rockfish being reeled up. Live bait (small rockfish where legal, mackerel) dropped to the bottom near structure produces trophy fish. Trolling large plugs along reef edges works well from boats.
Recommended Tackle
Medium-heavy to heavy conventional rod (5'6"-7 ft), level-wind reel, 40-65 lb braided line, 40-60 lb fluorocarbon leader, 6-16 oz jigs. The heavy tackle is needed to wrestle fish out of rocks and kelp quickly.
Best Nearshore Fishing Spots in Bodega Bay
Top spots where local captains target lingcod and other nearshore species.
Tomales Point Reefs
Tomales Point at the northern tip of Point Reyes features rocky nearshore reefs where lingcod, cabezon, and multiple rockfish species hold in kelp-covered structure from 30 to 80 feet deep. The point's exposed position catches nutrient-rich currents that support productive reef ecosystems close to Bodega Bay.
Bodega Rock
Bodega Rock is a prominent nearshore sea stack and reef complex just outside Bodega Harbor where blue rockfish, black rockfish, lingcod, and cabezon concentrate around the rock's submerged ledges and kelp forest. Small boats from Bodega Bay reach this productive spot within minutes of launching.
Horseshoe Cove
Horseshoe Cove south of Bodega Head provides a partially sheltered nearshore fishing ground where rocky reef transitions meet sandy bottom, holding lingcod, halibut, and rockfish in close proximity. The cove's kelp canopy shelters schools of blue and olive rockfish that are accessible to small-boat anglers.
Carmet Beach Reef
The rocky reef structure off Carmet Beach north of Bodega Bay holds cabezon, greenling, and rockfish along submerged rock ledges in 20 to 60 feet of water. Shore anglers cast into the reef zone from the beach's rocky headlands, while boat anglers drift the reef edges for lingcod.
Other Species in Bodega Bay
More fish you can target while visiting Bodega Bay.
Lingcod Fishing in Bodega Bay — FAQ
The peak months for Lingcod fishing in Bodega Bay are May, June. During these months, Lingcod are most active and abundant in the Bodega Bay area.
Lingcod fishing charters in Bodega Bay are typically nearshore trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Jigging heavy metal jigs (6-16 oz Crippled Herring, Luhr-Jensen Pipe Jig, Diamond Jigs) over rocky structure in 60-200 feet is the primary technique. Swimbaits (6-10 inch) on heavy jigheads worked along the bottom are deadly. Lingcod are notorious for grabbing hooked rockfish — many are caught "hitchhiking" on a rockfish being reeled up. Live bait (small rockfish where legal, mackerel) dropped to the bottom near structure produces trophy fish. Trolling large plugs along reef edges works well from boats.
No — when you book a charter in Bodega Bay, your captain provides all required California fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Lingcod regulations in California include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting Lingcod in Bodega Bay, you may also catch Rockfish, Chinook Salmon, Dungeness Crab, Pacific Halibut, Albacore Tuna. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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