Bob,
In the past I have caught them on live mackerel, live smelt, big B-52 4
ounce bucktails, and on smaller rockfish plastics. This one was caught on
a whole squid on the bottom, about 85' I think. The key is fishing on or
near the bottom, and near kelp or rocky structure with deep BAIT MARKS
on the fishfinder.
I use a 40# fluoro leader, 30 to 50 lb spectra mainline and fish my lever
drag on full force, with almost no give. For live bait I use 6/0 to 8/0 circle
hooks, at least 5 oz of weight with a big mackerel, or, 2/0 hook for smelt.
The roof of their mouths is like concrete, sometimes after a long battle the
hook will simply fall out on a headshake!
Early April is by far the best time to get them, so Good Luck out there!
Larry
There are a few other lingcod pix if you scroll down in my photos here
http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/blackcloud9/Fishing/?albumview=grid
Attached are a few La Jolla Ling classics --->
AND THE ULTIMATE IN SKILLED HOOKSETS WITH AN 8/0 CIRCLE HOOK ...........
