California · Southern California
LINGCOD FISHING
IN LONG BEACH
Long Beach is a solid destination for lingcod fishing, with peak season in May and good catches in March, April, June. Book a charter and target lingcod with local experts.
About Lingcod Fishing in Long Beach
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 — Long Beach
Month-by-month availability for lingcod in Long Beach, CA.
How to Catch Lingcod in Long Beach
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 Long Beach
Top spots where local captains target lingcod and other nearshore species.
Palos Verdes Peninsula
The Palos Verdes Peninsula features miles of rocky coastline and kelp beds where calico bass, sheephead, rockfish, and white seabass hold in some of the best nearshore structure in Los Angeles County. The peninsula's steep underwater terrain creates diverse habitat from shallow reef to deep rock walls within a mile of shore.
Long Beach Breakwater
The Long Beach Breakwater is a massive man-made structure that creates miles of rock-reef habitat holding calico bass, sand bass, sheephead, and perch. The breakwater's submerged rocks and current breaks create a nearshore fishery accessible from any small boat inside the protected harbor waters.
Horseshoe Kelp
Horseshoe Kelp is a large crescent-shaped kelp bed offshore of Long Beach and San Pedro that holds calico bass, sand bass, barracuda, and bonito in dense kelp canopy. The kelp's size and fish-holding capacity make it one of the most reliable nearshore destinations in the South Bay area.
Rocky Point (Palos Verdes)
Rocky Point on the Palos Verdes Peninsula features exposed rocky reef where calico bass, sheephead, and rockfish hold in kelp-covered structure from 20 to 80 feet deep. Shore anglers fish from the rocks while boat anglers work the outer kelp edges for quality bass and sheephead.
Other Species in Long Beach
More fish you can target while visiting Long Beach.
Rockfish
Yellowtail
White Seabass
Yellowfin Tuna
Pacific Bluefin Tuna
Albacore Tuna
Striped Marlin
Mahi Mahi
Lingcod Fishing in Long Beach — FAQ
The peak months for Lingcod fishing in Long Beach are May. During these months, Lingcod are most active and abundant in the Long Beach area.
Lingcod fishing charters in Long Beach 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 Long Beach, 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 Long Beach, you may also catch Rockfish, Yellowtail, White Seabass, Yellowfin Tuna, Pacific Bluefin Tuna. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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