Using Rockfish as Bait? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Rambo · 09-12-2016, 11:10 PM

If the lingcod decides to tag along and hitchhike following the rockfish there is no harm. Just reel slow and get the gaff ready, plenty of times I seen lingcod tag along and try and chase a hooked up rockfish. These party/cow boats toss the small rockfishes so instead of reeling after it gets bit let it stay down for a larger bite so your not intentionally killing them by bringing them up to the surface.

Aaron&Julie · 09-13-2016, 12:00 AM

Back in the winter of 1972/73 I was pinheading on the full day boat Pursuit out of Redondo. We'd fish the Kidney and other banks around Santa Barbara Island towards the Channel Isles, in 300+ feet deep. Whenever wed' catch 8-10" rockfish (especially striped) we'd often fillet out the sides to go after big Cows, Reds, Bocaccio, or Lings with good results. Rockfish this size were runts, and they would not survive if thrown back, not after coming up from that deep.
Regs were looser then, we were even allowed to use 10 hooks to go along with our 3-5lbs of lead.
I saw it a couple of times on the Pursuit where a Ling swallowed a whole rockfish on a ganion. Further up North in shallower water Lings regularly gulp down whole rockfish, or follow them up.

If it's legal, and you know the whereabouts of a good rock/shelf or lingcod location off of LJ, it might be worth a try, especially if you've caught a little 6-8" rockfish that's inflated and may not survive being released anyway. A rockfish that small will barely make 1 or 2 fish tacos, but catching a legal Lingcod off of it, or even a big Red means fish tacos for the whole family

If I get the chance to GPS some locations of lobster traps this winter, I would try it next year.

Oh, and yeah Lingcod love sand dabs and live squid. Just about anything they can get their big toothy mouth around.

09-13-2016, 12:00 AM	#2
Aaron&Julie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Spring Valley Posts: 1,400	Back in the winter of 1972/73 I was pinheading on the full day boat Pursuit out of Redondo. We'd fish the Kidney and other banks around Santa Barbara Island towards the Channel Isles, in 300+ feet deep. Whenever wed' catch 8-10" rockfish (especially striped) we'd often fillet out the sides to go after big Cows, Reds, Bocaccio, or Lings with good results. Rockfish this size were runts, and they would not survive if thrown back, not after coming up from that deep. Regs were looser then, we were even allowed to use 10 hooks to go along with our 3-5lbs of lead. I saw it a couple of times on the Pursuit where a Ling swallowed a whole rockfish on a ganion. Further up North in shallower water Lings regularly gulp down whole rockfish, or follow them up. If it's legal, and you know the whereabouts of a good rock/shelf or lingcod location off of LJ, it might be worth a try, especially if you've caught a little 6-8" rockfish that's inflated and may not survive being released anyway. A rockfish that small will barely make 1 or 2 fish tacos, but catching a legal Lingcod off of it, or even a big Red means fish tacos for the whole family If I get the chance to GPS some locations of lobster traps this winter, I would try it next year. Oh, and yeah Lingcod love sand dabs and live squid. Just about anything they can get their big toothy mouth around. __________________ "Never say die"

09-12-2016, 11:10 PM	#1
Rambo Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: West Covina, CA Posts: 434	If the lingcod decides to tag along and hitchhike following the rockfish there is no harm. Just reel slow and get the gaff ready, plenty of times I seen lingcod tag along and try and chase a hooked up rockfish. These party/cow boats toss the small rockfishes so instead of reeling after it gets bit let it stay down for a larger bite so your not intentionally killing them by bringing them up to the surface.