Lingcod Flavor Profile
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The name “Lingcod” causes some confusion in the culinary world because it is neither a “Cod” nor a “Ling”! It is actually a Pacific Greenling. Popular lore suggests that early settlers chose this name due to its similarity to European Ling coupled with its cod-like flaky white flesh. They are indigenous only to the Pacific West Coast and are nicknamed “buckethead” because of their enormous head.
Lingcod is a lean white fleshed fish with a mild flavor profile, medium-firm texture and large flakes. The raw flesh may have a blue-green shimmer which reminds you of a sort of gasoline slick. But don’t worry, this is natural for this fish and it disappears with cooking, leaving beautiful white flesh.
Typical Cooking Methods
- Bake
- Broil
- Deep-Fry
- Grill
- Poach
- Saute
- Smoke
- Steam
- Sushi
Alternate Names
Green Cod, Greenling, Cultus Cod, Blue Cod, Buffalo Cod, Buckethead, White Cod
Description (Ophiodon elongatus)
Lingcod is actually neither a Cod or a Ling, but is a Pacific Greenling. But the name has stuck. Lingcod average about 10 Lbs but can reach up to 130 Lb. They are found in various colors, typically with clusters of dark brown or copper. They can live up to about 25 years.
Fresh Lingcod Availability
Fresh lingcod availability chart: green areas show peak availability, light green show limited availability, gray indicates not available fresh. Frozen available all year long.
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Lingcod Butchering Yield %
Item | To Skin/On Fillets | To Skin/Off Fillets | Notes |
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Whole Head/On gutted | 39% | ||
Whole Head/Off gutted | — | 49% | If you have additional yield info on this fish please leave a comment below. |
For detailed butchering yield % and recovery see Lingcod Yield Percentage | |||
Yield % varies according to a number of factors including: size of fish, season, sex, and the skill of your fishmonger. |
AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF
Range & Habitat
Lingcod are found along the Pacific Coast from Baja California to Alaska and the Aleutian Peninsula. They dwell in rocky areas near the bottom at depths of 30 – 300 feet.
Typical Wholesale Products
H&G, Fillets, Steaks
Lingcod Sustainability Info
Name | Alternate Names | Catch Method | Catch Region |
Seafood Watch |
Ocean Wise |
Sea Choice |
Mercury Concerns |
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Ling Cod | Green Cod, Bluefish, Cultus Cod, Blue Cod, Buffalo Cod, White Cod, Greenling | Wild, Bottom Longline, Handline | Alaska, Norther British Columbia | ![]() |
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Elevated |
Ling Cod | Green Cod, Bluefish, Cultus Cod, Blue Cod, Buffalo Cod, White Cod, Greenling | Wild, Bottom Longline, Handline, Bottom Trawl | US West Coast | ![]() |
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Elevated |
Disclaimer: The sustainability info above is accurate to the best of our knowledge. However, each program randomly updates their information without our knowledge. We therefore recommend that you verify the current accuracy of this information. | |||||||
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Updated August 2013 |
Nutritional Informationbased upon a 6 oz (171 grams) raw edible serving.
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