Ling fishing Puget Sound

[jordanpaulmiller]

I've gone 3 for 3 so far. Also out fishing the guys that were using live bait in the same area. Those fish are Big, Mean, and Dumb! (If I can catch them, you know they're DUMB! haha) I caught mine on a lead head jig and another on a big shiny metal bar with a hook on it. By the time most people were done trying to catch live bait, I was filleting my catch. 10.5 Lbs of fillet off of the last one.

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[fear_no_fish]

what did that fish measure out at? It looks pretty long to be under 36"?

[jordanpaulmiller]

Was just under 36. Flattering angle. haha

[FinChaserNW]

Kudos for getting one just under 36". Very nice fish. We've gone 2 for 2. It's been a fun opener so far. I did the same as you and skipped the live bait. One on plastics and one on pipe jig. Can't ask for better weather than we've had. Happy Fishing.

Scott

[MotoBoat]

Kudos for getting one just under 36". Very nice fish. We've gone 2 for 2. It's been a fun opener so far. I did the same as you and skipped the live bait. One on plastics and one on pipe jig. Can't ask for better weather than we've had. Happy Fishing.

Scott

Pipe jig? What is that? I mean to say, can you find that in a tackle store? Or are these old school, and best found in Granpa's tackle box or at a garage sale in Ballard?

Are they normally coated in chrome? Seem's to me I have seen one or more of those in Granpa's tackle box! How much do they weigh and how long are they?

[Dan Boone]

Kudos for getting one just under 36". Very nice fish. We've gone 2 for 2. It's been a fun opener so far. I did the same as you and skipped the live bait. One on plastics and one on pipe jig. Can't ask for better weather than we've had. Happy Fishing.

Scott

Pipe jig? What is that? I mean to say, can you find that in a tackle store? Or are these old school, and best found in Granpa's tackle box or at a garage sale in Ballard?

Are they normally coated in chrome? Seem's to me I have seen one or more of those in Granpa's tackle box! How much do they weigh and how long are they?

They're made out of copper pipe with lead poured into the bottom and I think cotter pins stuck through holes and treble hooks attached to those. Never used one though.

[goodtimesfishing]

Went out Wed. the 8th for trip #5 and was able to get another. Makes it 5 for 5 now, and this time brought a buddy and got him on his first one of the year. Lost several before landing our 2 fish(1 each). He caught a 28 inch and mine was 26 1/2 inch. Interesting part of this trip was that while catching our bait, my buddy hooks into a salmon about 20-22 inch. He uses an ultra ultra light pole for catching the sand dabs. The light pole made for an interesting fight that was fun to watch as the salmon jumped several times. After several runs it finally snapped the light line but had it up to the boat 3 or 4 times. I plan on hitting the water again tomorrow morning...hope I can make it 6 for 6!

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[fear_no_fish]

i was out yesterday with my dad and his buddy, we caught a cab and missed a couple.
Probably was a black mouth your buddy hooked, i bet that was fun!
How deep are you catching the dabs at? Next time out we will probably stop and catch a couple. Seems they dont care to much for the jigs, we have never gone this long without a ling.

[goodtimesfishing]

The dabs are getting easier to find with the warm weather we are having. I had to go to about 70ft to find them last week and know they seem to be abundent in about 20-30 feet of water. If are not hitting them move until you do and mark that spot or anchor and you will catch them fast, otherwise it can seem hard to catch the bait then the lings.

Your right it was a blackmouth and I was jealous to not be the one with it on my line....it was fun just to watch though. My buddy had his drag light so those first couple runs were awesome. As he tightened it up he ended up snapping his line. Very fun though.

I have yet to get a cab yet this year. I have seen several people fishing with jigs and see them catch lots of rockfish but yet to see any of them bring in a ling yet. I feel that the jigs most are using are WAY to small, if one is going to use a jig I would stick with something on the large size. The other thing I find is most people I see out there do not have there lines vertical??? If you are not able to keep your line vertical, you need more weight(goes back to the too small of jigs again). If the current is ripping....put more weight on and stay vertical! If you are not hitting bottom...put more weight on. When you hit bottom, quickly get off bottom. Just my 2 cents

[wolff]

goodtimesfishing...great job on the lings!!! I got a couple last year(area 7), and the wife tasted one for the first time and has been asking ever since when she can have some more. Can't show her your posts..LOL

[fear_no_fish]

The dabs are getting easier to find with the warm weather we are having. I had to go to about 70ft to find them last week and know they seem to be abundent in about 20-30 feet of water. If are not hitting them move until you do and mark that spot or anchor and you will catch them fast, otherwise it can seem hard to catch the bait then the lings.

Your right it was a blackmouth and I was jealous to not be the one with it on my line....it was fun just to watch though. My buddy had his drag light so those first couple runs were awesome. As he tightened it up he ended up snapping his line. Very fun though.

I have yet to get a cab yet this year. I have seen several people fishing with jigs and see them catch lots of rockfish but yet to see any of them bring in a ling yet. I feel that the jigs most are using are WAY to small, if one is going to use a jig I would stick with something on the large size. The other thing I find is most people I see out there do not have there lines vertical??? If you are not able to keep your line vertical, you need more weight(goes back to the too small of jigs again). If the current is ripping....put more weight on and stay vertical! If you are not hitting bottom...put more weight on. When you hit bottom, quickly get off bottom. Just my 2 cents

I am jealous and i wasnt there haha
we have no problem up in the san jauns catching them on our jigs or with angel in our lines. Just different bottom structure so im starting to think the jigs just arent what they want

[goodtimesfishing]

Nailed another today making it 6 for 6. Another 35 incher. Caught it in less then a minute of fishing. As soon as I dropped my line, it hit bottom, I reeled up about 10 feet and it was fish on......that fast!!! Great fighter and major thrasher when it got in the boat. Before I measured it, i was afraid it might have to go back but it squeeked in at 35 inches! Buddy hooked and landed a 25 incher...but it had to go back.

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[fear_no_fish]

ahh, hopefully tomorrow morning i will get my chance!

[RiverChromeGS]

Went out with 3 buddies and got our 4 lings up here out of bellingham today. 27 26.5 30 and 35 inchers on herring. Released 7 undersized as well and put a limit of tasty greenling in the box!

[goodtimesfishing]

Way to go Danny!! Amazing how much bigger they get with every inch in length. I noticed that I double the weight of fillet out of a 35 inch vs. a 26-30 inch. Be good eating.

[MotoBoat]

Nice catch of multi species! Most definitely personal preference, but what eats better. A greenling, cabazon rockfish or Ling? Or give an order in which you prefer them. I caught various species of rockfish and lings down in California a few years back. The lings had a light "dirty" taste. When compared to the rockfish. Rockfish, hands down were the better eaters out of that batch of fish.

[schu7498]

Cabezon is my all time favorite. Rockfish then ling. I wont keep greenlings anymore, they remind me of eating flounder.

[MotoBoat]

Cabezon is my all time favorite. Rockfish then ling. I wont keep greenlings anymore, they remind me of eating flounder.

I have yet to try a Cabazon. Have heard they have a non white colored flesh?

[RiverChromeGS]

I like greenling the best, then lingcod, i havent eaten cabezon. Lings definetely dont have a slight dirty taste up here however! I just tried greenling for the first time last year and its amazing, light flakey, just delicious.

[goodtimesfishing]

Have not eaten greenling myself but I bet it is good.
As for lingcod tasting dirty, sounds like someone didn't take care of their catch. Lingcod is some of the best tasting white fish there is. I prefer halibut but lingcod would be right up there. Any game rather fish or animal is going to taste like crap if you don't take care of your catch. Number 1 bleed your fish immediately!!! 2nd gut fish and then put on ice. Don't go fishing without ice unless you are just catch and releasing your fish.
Just my 2 cents!