Green lingcod may be found in Southeast Alaska, and out on the southern side of the Alaska peninsula, however large areas of Prince William Sound seem to be devoid of fish of this color variation. The cause of this coloration is unknown, however, some evidence exists that it may be dietary in nature, with large areas of lingcod habitat showing no fish of that color. The flesh turns from blue-green to white when it is cooked. It should be noted that some lings appear bluish-green on the white parts of their body, and this color permeates the meat as well. For this reason, lingcod season is closed in most of the state during this time. Males are particularly susceptible to anglers during this time, because they are likely to strike anything that ventures close to their nest. Spawning occurs between December and mid-March, and males aggressively guard the eggs until they hatch. They are not a particularly long-lived fish, with the top age somewhere around 20-25 years. Lingcod are a fast-growing fish, with sizes running in excess of 60 inches and weights up to 80 pounds or more. Pretty much anything that fits inside a ling's mouth is fair game, and it's not unusual to catch a ling that has a fifteen-pound coho salmon in its belly. Most of the time this consists of herring, small rockfish, and even small lingcod. Found along rockpiles and other structure near the bottom, "lings" patrol their turf seeking something to devour. The lingcod ( ophiodon elongatus), neither a ling or a cod, is an utterly fearless fish.
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