JUST AS YOU shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, anglers shouldn’t come down too harshly on lingcod.
The bottomfish species’ off-putting appearance, complete with large mouth and sharp teeth, along with its mottled coloration, fails to give a worthy impression of just how tasty a meal of fish tacos or fish and chips made from a fresh catch can be.
But anglers are no strangers to the pleasures of its flesh, so to speak.
Lings are the most appealing saltwater fishing choice this weekend, as Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) opens Saturday.
I’ve yet to experience the oily and fatty joy of a Sol Duc River springer, so I felt I needed to add the saltwater qualifier above.
Neah Bay joins Marine Area 3 (LaPush), which has been open for lingcod fishing since mid-March.
Mike Lawrence of Big Salmon Resort (360-645-2374) in Neah Bay said Wednesday that the resort is anticipating the first rush of anglers of the year this weekend.
“Just getting all geared up,” Lawrence said.
“Our deli is good to go, and there is plenty of lingcod out there.”
Lawrence and some friends went to test the waters recently, finding success close to the marina at Seal and Sail Rock, Waadah Island and Third Beach.
“We didn’t make it out [to the Pacific Ocean] to check, you really don’t need to,” Lawrence said.
“We just stayed real close in to shore and found them.”
Randy Lato of All-Ways Fishing (360-374-2052) in LaPush has been busy steelhead fishing and is yet to go lingcod fishing this season, but he also pointed anglers to the Rock Pile, 10 miles west of LaPush.
“The Rock Pile is open right now. That’s as far as you need to go,” Lato said.
“You can go 30-plus miles offshore for the trophy lings, but I don’t think that’s worth it.”
Both Lawrence and Lato recommend using artificial lures rather than live bait to attract the voracious lingcod.
“I like to use artificial,” Lato said.
“You tend to encounter less yellow eye and canary [overfished rockfish species] that way.”
The pair both mentioned using the same setups.
“I use 12-ounce leadheads and scampi bails,” Lato said.
Lawrence agreed.
“We just got the scampis and the leadheads,” Lawrence said.
“They attack pretty much everything.
“Lots of people use darts, and some people use greenlings, kelp suckers, whatever you call them, those attract the lingcod.”
Live baits like greenling aren’t the popular option, but it does have some fans, Lawrence said.
“They like to bounce their banana weight off the bottom with a piece of herring,” Lawrence said.
“Brandi Carlile, the country singer, when she comes out she always loads up that way.”
Lato recommends tapping the ocean floor at the bottom with your jig.
“Fishing the bottom ranges from 170 feet to 220 feet out there,” Lato said.
“Lings are a gear-grabbing bastard. Just tap right at the bottom of your jig. You just want to tap and then get it right back up again.
“Then just go down and make sure you are close and you get the hooks pointed.”
Lato challenges the more seasoned angler to use pipe jigs.
“Throw a pipe jig on with a treble hook and see how long it stays off the bottom,” Lato said.
Anglers at Neah Bay and LaPush also can load up on rockfish.
“The sea bass are a nice size this time of year,” Lawrence said.
Beath talks halibut
Expert fisherman John Beath will offer tips, tricks and techniques tailored to catch halibut in Marine Area 6 (Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca) at the next meeting of the North Olympic Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers.
The meeting will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave., at 6:45 p.m. Thursday, April 21.
The state’s short halibut season is planned for just eight days this season, and will open Saturday, May 7.
Beath, a chapter member, guide and all-around fishing resource, also will discuss the potential for fishing for halibut in Canadian waters.
He also offers advice online on his web sites halibutchronicles.com, halibut.net, salmonchronicles.com and gofishmagazine.com.
For more information about Puget Sound Anglers, visit www.psanopc.org.
Save the date, kids
The North Olympic Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers also plays an important role in the Sequim Kid’s Fishing Day.
This year’s event is set for the Carrie Blake Park Pond on Saturday, May 21.
Fishing begins at 8 a.m. and will wrap at 2 p.m.
Kids 14 and younger can fish and retain two trout each.
Gear, bait, cleaning and icing will be provided.
Children age 4 and younger also can fish a smaller pond.
Hot dogs and soda will be provided.
The city of Sequim and state Department of Fish and Wildlife partner with the Puget Sound Anglers to put on the event.
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Outdoors columnist Michael Carman appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 57050 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
