Lingcod
Ophiodon Elongatus
Written by Fin + Forage’s Environmental Scientist, Ariella Simke
Fish Images by Randall Spangler
Slice open a fresh lingcod after a dive and you may be lucky enough to see aquamarine flesh splayed out in front of you. When cooked, the pigment will disappear entirely, exposing flaky white meat. While scientists aren’t sure what causes this phenomenon, there are a small percentage (about 20%) of lingcod with this particularly appealing trait. One theory is that the blue-green flesh of these “smurf cod” results from a diet rich in chlorophyll (i.e., plant matter found in the crabs they eat) and fishermen claim to find them at shallower depths. While their name is a bit of a misnomer- these prehistoric-looking fish are actually in the greenling family, a fact that is readily apparent given their body shape and behavior.
Lingcod are pretty special fish. Found only on the west coast of the United States from Alaska down to Baja, these solitary predators camouflage perfectly into their environment. Preferring to rest along the bottom of the ocean, they can often be found lazily lounging on the rocky reef or tucked under large boulders. Like many of the fish species in California, lingcod are relatively long-lived, with lifespans of 20 years or more.
Lingcod are fished commercially, and have experienced historical population declines due to overfishing, however population levels appear to be stabilizing recently thanks to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan which establishes catch limits, season closures and gear restrictions. Lingcod are important species in the ecosystem, keeping populations of smaller fish, squid, crab and octopi in check. They are also an important food source to marine mammals, sharks and larger lingcod.
Males become sexually mature around 2 years of age, and females around 3 years of age. When the time comes to spawn, males establish a territory on the reef and females arrive shortly after. They create a layered egg/sperm concoction that will become their offspring. Once complete, the female goes off to do her own thing, leaving the male to ferociously guard the eggs until they hatch. If left unattended, the nests can be completely decimated in 48 hours by hungry fish and invertebrates.
Lingcod eggs will develop into larvae, feeding on zooplankton and larval crustaceans. These larvae depend on the eelgrass ecosystem to support them during this delicate time, until they grow large enough to relocate to the sandy seafloor. The largest lingcod on record was a whopping 80 pounds and measured in at almost 60 inches.
Bibliography
