Seattle area lingcod numbers down

Got this in my email from the bottomsounders group.

LING COD NESTING NUMBERS  DEPRESSED: Recent checks at local breakwaters (Shilshole Marina, and Elliott Bay Marina) indicate that numbers of lingcod nests are down drastically compared to previous years. From 2004 - 2007, the average nests off these breakwaters (in a 150 yard sample area) was six. In 2008 and 2009, the average is 1. If you want more scientific details, contact [email protected]. Spearfishing is almost certainly having an effect. Fish & Game has also tested water off Shilshole and recorded some of the highest fecal coliform in the state. STOP SPEARING LINGCOD off our local breakwaters!!!

I've always wondered how these lingcod populations held up considering the pressure they get.  I know we all like lingcod and a local population would be nice to target.  But I'm not going to eat a ling from Shilshole or Elliot Bays anyways, so let's not target them and let's let them be.

-Allen

Those numbers do suck. I won't be fishing those spots anymore. and to top it off, Fecal coliform? Yikes!

Z

That really sucks.. Where is the area's you guys like to go for Ling besides these places?

I believe, and hope the opposite is happening here. I'm no scientist but i think were gonna have an explosion of 'em. When i was jigging for herring in the harbor last year i kept catching little baby lings, 4-6 inches long, tons of them. Caught more of them sometimes then the darn herring. And we catch alot of nice healthy underling too. I hope this bodes well for the future.

I'm still gonna start to release smaller just keeper size Ling now that i got some weight in the freezer..

That really sucks.. Where is the area's you guys like to go for Ling besides these places?

There's still a few other spots around that are some good ling producers. The one's Pole mentioned are just super easy to get to and get a TON of pressure.

I'm still gonna start to release smaller just keeper size Ling now that i got some weight in the freezer..

Don't forget to release the real big ones someday. Those genes need to keep going!

Z

Don't forget to release the real big ones someday. Those genes need to keep going!

Z

Oh yea, And i've been doing that alot anyway, without ever seeing them....

I've never bothered the lings at the local breakwaters because:

• 1.)There's much better ling areas to the north and west,
• 2.)I don't want to eat anything so close to the most polluted parts of the Sound! 

The N Sound and Coastal ling numbers seem to be doing better, up here, too.