The Outdoor Line Forum

Caught a couple lingcod on the Slammer out of Westport a few weekends ago and have been looking forward to giving it a try in Puget Sound since. I can't seem to find a publicized 2011 opening date for lings in Areas 9 and 10, however. Does anyone know for sure when it opens? Relatedly, I'm curious if anyone has a quick primer on how to rig a live sand dab for ling bait? Thanks! -Ryan

Hey Ryan,
Marine Areas 8-1 thru 9 open May 1-June 15 for lingcod and other regulation can be found here: http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/00957/wdfw00957.pdf

Catching sanddabs is easy with either Berkley Gulp soft baits or mussles that you break off a piling at low tide.

Tie up two 7/0 Octopus hooks about 6" apart mooching leader style on a three foot piece of 50 lb test. Tie your "ling leader" to the bead-chain end of a 6 oz mooching sinker and you're in business!

Hook the sanddab through the upper jaw or skull, but don't go so far back that you penetrate the brain and kill him... you want him to swim

Find a rock pile or pinnacle (there are some dandies off of Double Bluff) and deploy the rigged 'dab... let the ling eat it!!! then let him eat it some more... then reel into the bite...dont jerk!

If the wind is blowing you'll have to back into it and hover over your intended target water. Do some chart study and you'll find plenty o' pinnacles out there!

Good luck!

Ryan-
It may be tricky catching those sand dabs or other flat fish in early May. At that time of the year they typically are in still in their winter haunts - meaning deep water. In the past they would be deeper than 120 feet which of course now puts them off limits until they move up shallower. Expect to spend a fair amount of time looking for the "dabs' in that water shallower until later in the month - fortunately May is when they move back into the shallows so they will become easier (shallower) as the spring progresses.

As Tom mentioned a inch long piece of Berkley glup bass worm on a #2 hook is all you will need to catch those sand dabs if you find them - they will also bite 2 1/2 or 3 oz Point Wilson darts hopped across sand flats.

I don't use bait for my lings catching them on jigs, various soft baits and even flies.

Tight lines
Curt

Lots of folks using swimbaits now for ling cod too, so if you can't find live dabs that's another good option. I haven't tried one of these yet, but I guaran-damn-tee that they'd hammer one of these things if it ended up in their wheelhouse. Here's a link to what I'm talking about...http://www.theoutdoorline.com/Gear-Revi ... ab/51.aspx

Thanks for the info guys.