Lingcod (also known as Ling, Buffalo Cod) in Washington. Minimum legal size, daily bag limit, possession limit, slot rule — verified against the WDFW guide, 2026.
In Washington, the minimum legal size for Lingcod varies by area — check the official source for the area you are fishing and the daily bag limit is 2 (Marine Areas 1–3, 4 west and 4 east); 1 (Marine Areas 5–11 and 13); 0 (Marine Area 12). A slot limit applies: Inner Puget Sound (Marine Areas 5–11, 13): 26–36 in by angling gear, per WAC 220-314-020(2)(f); spear fishing 36 in maximum, no minimum. No minimum AND no maximum size on the coast (Marine Areas 1–3 and 4 west). Season note: Open seasons and these size and bag limits are reviewed at least annually and can change in-season — always confirm the current Washington rules (including open dates, depth and area) before keeping fish.
There is no single Washington minimum legal size for Lingcod — it varies by area. Coastal Marine Areas 1–4 have no minimum size, while Puget Sound / the Strait carries a 26–36 in slot. Check the WDFW sport fishing rules for the area you are fishing before you keep a fish.
Inner Puget Sound (Marine Areas 5–11, 13): 26–36 in by angling gear, per WAC 220-314-020(2)(f); spear fishing 36 in maximum, no minimum. No minimum AND no maximum size on the coast (Marine Areas 1–3 and 4 west).
Open seasons and these size and bag limits are reviewed at least annually and can change in-season — always confirm the current Washington rules (including open dates, depth and area) before keeping fish.
Coastal = no min, 2/day. Puget Sound = 26-36 in slot, 1/day. Spearfishing Puget Sound = no min but max 36 in. STATE waters. Coastal MA 1-4 2026 lingcod season March 14 - Oct 17, no min size, 2/day. Puget Sound MA 5-13 has a separate annually-set lingcod season window with a 26-36 inch slot and 1/day. Depth restrictions apply seasonally. Confirm current dates + open depth/area. Re-checked 2026-09: the stored "Maximum size 36 in (coastal Marine Areas 1–4)" is refuted — neither WDFW coastal page states any maximum size for lingcod, and WAC 220-314-020(1)(b)(i) gives the coast as "2 fish, no minimum length". The 26–36 in rule sits under subsection (2), Inner Puget Sound. Marine Area 12 is closed to lingcod. Aggregate differs by area: 9-fish bottomfish aggregate on the coast and in MA 4 east, 15-fish in Marine Areas 5–13.
These limits are pulled from the WDFW sport fishing rules. Last verified September 2026.
Always check the official guide before keeping any fish. Regulations change. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife updates its guide annually and occasionally mid-year. Fines for over-bag or undersized fish are significant.
This species has no single Washington minimum legal size — it is set per area. Confirm the minimum for the exact area you are fishing before keeping a fish.
Washington requires a fishing licence for anyone aged 15 or older, plus a (free) Catch Record Card for halibut and certain species. WDFW licences.
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