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Lingcod fishing in Seattle

A short, ferocious season for the meanest-looking fish in Puget Sound — and one of the best-eating. When lingcod opens, it is the trip to book.

The season is short — that is the whole point

Lingcod in Puget Sound is not a year-round fishery. The recreational season in the Sound traditionally opens May 1 and closes mid-June, giving you roughly six weeks. Exact dates are set by WDFW each year and can change, so confirm the current year's rules before you plan around it.

That short window is why lingcod trips fill first. If you want to fish it, book early. Once it closes, it is closed for eleven months.

What a lingcod actually is

Not a cod. Lingcod are ambush predators — a big mouth full of teeth attached to a muscular body that lives on rocky structure and eats anything that swims past. They hit hard, they fight dirty, and they will try to break you off in the rocks. A good one is 10–20 pounds; they get much bigger.

They are also superb eating. Firm white fillets, mild, no bones to speak of. Some fish are fun to catch and mediocre on the plate. Lingcod is both.

How we fish for them

Controlled drift over structure. We position the boat so your gear tracks across rocky bottom where lingcod sit waiting, then work jigs and bait through the strike zone. It is an active, hands-on style — you are feeling the bottom, staying in contact, and lifting when it goes heavy.

It is also a genuinely good trip for a mixed group, because the same drift produces flounder. If the lingcod bite goes quiet, the flatfish keep the rods bent, which matters if you have kids or first-timers aboard.

Where we fish

We depart Shilshole Bay Marina, Dock V and fish the rocky structure of Marine Areas 9 and 10. Captain Thao has spent years learning which pieces of structure hold fish in which conditions — that knowledge is most of what you are paying for on a bottom-fishing trip, because lingcod are not evenly distributed. They are where they are.

Rules worth knowing

Lingcod have minimum and maximum size limits in Puget Sound, and a daily limit. The maximum matters: the biggest fish are breeding females, and they go back. We handle all of this on the boat and will walk you through it, but it is worth knowing before you come that not every fish you catch is a fish you keep.

Common questions

When is lingcod season in Puget Sound?

The recreational lingcod season in Puget Sound traditionally runs from May 1 to mid-June. WDFW sets exact dates annually, so confirm the current year's regulations.

How big do lingcod get in Puget Sound?

A good Puget Sound lingcod runs 10 to 20 pounds, and they get considerably bigger. Puget Sound has both minimum and maximum size limits, so the largest fish must be released.

Are lingcod good to eat?

Yes — firm, mild white fillets with very few bones. Lingcod is one of the best-eating fish in Puget Sound. We clean and fillet your catch at the dock.

Do I need a licence for lingcod fishing?

Yes, a Washington fishing licence is required. A one-day licence can be issued onboard.