Can I Keep?Lingcod Regulations in Alaska (2026)
Recreational lingcod rules in Alaska saltwater, as published by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Last checked November 7, 2026.
Limits differ by area — the summary below is the first published rule; see every rule underneath.
Bag limit
1 per person
Season
• May 16-June 14: Open to lingcod fishing. • September 1-November 30…
Can I keep it today? Check your harbor & date
Recreational Lingcod rules in Alaska
- Where
- Southeast Alaska salt waters – Northern Southeast Area (ocean)
- Bag limit
- 1 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit. 1 per day, 1 in possession. There is an annual limit of 2 fish, 1 that is 30-35 inches long, and 1 that is 55 inches or longer. Harvest record required. See page 4.
- Season
- • May 16-June 14: Open to lingcod fishing. • September 1-November 30: Open to lingcod fishing.
- • Alaska Residents (All areas): • May 16-November 30: Open to lingcod fishing. • 1 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit. • Nonresidents (All areas except Yakutat area): • 1 per day, 1 in possession. There is an annual limit of 2 fish, 1 that is 30-35 inches long, and 1 that is 55 inches or longer. Harvest record required. See page 4. • Charter operators and their crew are prohibited from keeping lingcod while clients are on board.
- Where
- Southeast Alaska salt waters – Central Southeast Outside Area (ocean)
- Bag limit
- 1 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit. 1 per day, 1 in possession. There is an annual limit of 2 fish, 1 that is 30-35 inches long, and 1 that is 55 inches or longer. Harvest record required. See page 4.
- Season
- • May 16-June 30: Open to lingcod fishing. • September 1-November 30: Open to lingcod fishing.
- • Alaska Residents (All areas): • May 16-November 30: Open to lingcod fishing. • 1 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit. • Nonresidents (All areas except Yakutat area): • 1 per day, 1 in possession. There is an annual limit of 2 fish, 1 that is 30-35 inches long, and 1 that is 55 inches or longer. Harvest record required. See page 4. • Charter operators and their crew are prohibited from keeping lingcod while clients are on board.
- Where
- Southeast Alaska salt waters – Southern Southeast Outer Coast Area (ocean)
- Bag limit
- 1 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit. 1 per day, 1 in possession. There is an annual limit of 2 fish, 1 that is 30-35 inches long, and 1 that is 55 inches or longer. Harvest record required. See page 4.
- Season
- • May 16-July 31: Open to lingcod fishing. • September 1-November 30: Open to lingcod fishing.
- • Alaska Residents (All areas): • May 16-November 30: Open to lingcod fishing. • 1 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit. • Nonresidents (All areas except Yakutat area): • 1 per day, 1 in possession. There is an annual limit of 2 fish, 1 that is 30-35 inches long, and 1 that is 55 inches or longer. Harvest record required. See page 4. • Charter operators and their crew are prohibited from keeping lingcod while clients are on board.
- Where
- Southeast Alaska salt waters – Southern Southeast Inside Waters Area (ocean)
- Bag limit
- 1 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit. 1 per day, 1 in possession. There is an annual limit of 2 fish, 1 that is 30-35 inches long, and 1 that is 55 inches or longer. Harvest record required. See page 4.
- Season
- • May 16-November 30: Open to lingcod fishing.
- • Alaska Residents (All areas): • May 16-November 30: Open to lingcod fishing. • 1 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit. • Nonresidents (All areas except Yakutat area): • 1 per day, 1 in possession. There is an annual limit of 2 fish, 1 that is 30-35 inches long, and 1 that is 55 inches or longer. Harvest record required. See page 4. • Charter operators and their crew are prohibited from keeping lingcod while clients are on board.
- Where
- Southeast Alaska salt waters – Yakutat Area (ocean)
- Size limit
- 1 per day, 1 in possession. There is an annual limit of 2 fish, 1 that is of any size and 1 that must be 55 inches or longer. Harvest record required. See page 4.
- Bag limit
- 1 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit. 1 per day, 1 in possession. There is an annual limit of 2 fish, 1 that is 30-35 inches long, and 1 that is 55 inches or longer. Harvest record required. See page 4. 1 per day, 1 in possession. There is an annual limit of 2 fish, 1 that is of any size and 1 that must be 55 inches or longer. Harvest record required. See page 4.
- Possession
- 1 per day, 1 in possession. There is an annual limit of 2 fish, 1 that is of any size and 1 that must be 55 inches or longer. Harvest record required. See page 4.
- Season
- • May 16-November 30: Open to lingcod fishing.
- • Alaska Residents (All areas): • May 16-November 30: Open to lingcod fishing. • 1 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit. • Nonresidents (All areas except Yakutat area): • 1 per day, 1 in possession. There is an annual limit of 2 fish, 1 that is 30-35 inches long, and 1 that is 55 inches or longer. Harvest record required. See page 4. • Charter operators and their crew are prohibited from keeping lingcod while clients are on board.
- 1 per day, 1 in possession. There is an annual limit of 2 fish, 1 that is of any size and 1 that must be 55 inches or longer. Harvest record required. See page 4.
- Where
- Cook Inlet & Kachemak Bay salt waters (ocean)
- Size limit
- July 1-December 31: 1 per day, 2 in possession, must be at least 35 inches long with head attached or 28 inches from tip of tail to front of dorsal fin with head removed.
- Bag limit
- July 1-December 31: 1 per day, 2 in possession, must be at least 35 inches long with head attached or 28 inches from tip of tail to front of dorsal fin with head removed.
- Possession
- July 1-December 31: 1 per day, 2 in possession, must be at least 35 inches long with head attached or 28 inches from tip of tail to front of dorsal fin with head removed.
- Season
- • July 1-December 31: 1 per day, 2 in possession, must be at least 35 inches long with head attached or 28 inches from tip of tail to front of dorsal fin with head removed.
- Where
- Prince William Sound salt waters (ocean)
- Size limit
- July 1-December 31: 1 per day, 1 in possession, minimum 35 inches long with head attached, or 28 inches or greater from tip of tail to front of dorsal fine with head removed.
- Bag limit
- July 1-December 31: 1 per day, 1 in possession, minimum 35 inches long with head attached, or 28 inches or greater from tip of tail to front of dorsal fine with head removed.
- Possession
- July 1-December 31: 1 per day, 1 in possession, minimum 35 inches long with head attached, or 28 inches or greater from tip of tail to front of dorsal fine with head removed.
- Season
- • July 1-December 31: 1 per day, 1 in possession, minimum 35 inches long with head attached, or 28 inches or greater from tip of tail to front of dorsal fine with head removed.
- Where
- Kodiak Island, Alaska Peninsula & Aleutian Islands salt waters (ocean)
- Size limit
- 1 per day, 1 in possession, 35 inches or longer. 2 per day, 4 in possession, no size limit.
- Bag limit
- 1 per day, 1 in possession, 35 inches or longer. 2 per day, 4 in possession, no size limit.
- Possession
- 1 per day, 1 in possession, 35 inches or longer. 2 per day, 4 in possession, no size limit.
- Season
- • July 1-December 31: Open to lingcod fishing. Afognak and Shuyak Islands - north of the latitude of Tonki Cape (north of 58°21.181’N. lat.) and north of the latitude of Black Cape (north of 58°24.583’N. lat.), inclusive of all waters between these points by emergency order: • 1 per day, 1 in possession, 35 inches or longer.
- July 1-December 31: Open to lingcod fishing. Afognak and Shuyak Islands - north of the latitude of Tonki Cape (north of 58°21.181’N. lat.) and north of the latitude of Black Cape (north of 58°24.583’N. lat.), inclusive of all waters between these points by emergency order:
- Where
- North Gulf Coast salt waters – Resurrection Bay (North of line between Cape Resurrection to Aialik Cape) (ocean)
- Season
- Closed year-round to all lingcod fishing. Lingcod caught incidentally must be released immediately. You cannot legally fish for any species of fish inside Resurrection Bay if you possess a lingcod taken elsewhere.
- Closed year-round to all lingcod fishing. Lingcod caught incidentally must be released immediately. You cannot legally fish for any species of fish inside Resurrection Bay if you possess a lingcod taken elsewhere.
- Where
- North Gulf Coast salt waters – Outside of Resurrection Bay (ocean)
- Size limit
- July 1-Dec. 31 1 per day, 2 in possession, must be at least 35 inches long with head attached or 28 inches from tip of tail to front of dorsal fin with head removed.
- Bag limit
- July 1-Dec. 31 1 per day, 2 in possession, must be at least 35 inches long with head attached or 28 inches from tip of tail to front of dorsal fin with head removed.
- Possession
- July 1-Dec. 31 1 per day, 2 in possession, must be at least 35 inches long with head attached or 28 inches from tip of tail to front of dorsal fin with head removed.
- Season
- July 1-Dec. 31 1 per day, 2 in possession, must be at least 35 inches long with head attached or 28 inches from tip of tail to front of dorsal fin with head removed.
Commercial rules
Show 4 commercial rules
- Where
- Southeast Alaska (Eastern Gulf of Alaska Area) (ocean)
- Season
- (a) In the Eastern Gulf of Alaska Area, lingcod may be taken at any time except as otherwise provided in this chapter or when closed by emergency order. (b) Lingcod may be taken in a directed lingcod fishery only from May 16 through November 30. (c) Lingcod may be taken as bycatch in the commercial salmon troll gear fishery only from May 16 through November 30. (d) Lingcod may be taken as bycatch in a commercial groundfish fishery operating mechanical jigging machines or hand troll gear only from May 16 through November 30.
- Where
- Prince William Sound Area (ocean)
- Season
- (c) Lingcod may be taken only from July 1 through December 31, unless closed earlier by emergency order, (1) in a directed fishery; and (2) as bycatch up to 20 percent by round weight of the directed finfish species on board a vessel, unless the commissioner closes the season and opens another season in which the bycatch is prohibited or further limited.
- Where
- Cook Inlet Area (ocean)
- Season
- (b) Lingcod may be taken only from July 1 through December 31.
- Where
- Kodiak Area (ocean)
- Season
- (a) Unless otherwise specified in this chapter, groundfish may be taken only during seasons established by emergency order or under a permit issued by the commissioner. (b) Lingcod may be taken only from July 1 through December 31.
Quick answers
How many lingcod can I keep in Alaska?
1 per day, 2 in possession, no size limit. 1 per day, 1 in possession. There is an annual limit of 2 fish, 1 that is 30-35 inches long, and 1 that is 55 inches or longer. Harvest record required. See page 4. (for the first listed area; other areas may differ — see above).
When is lingcod season in Alaska?
• May 16-June 14: Open to lingcod fishing. • September 1-November 30: Open to lingcod fishing.. Whether it is open on a specific day can change by emergency rule — check today's status in the app.
Compare Lingcod limits in other states →
More groundfish & flatfish in Alaska
- Demersal shelf rockfish
- Pacific halibut
- Pelagic rockfish
- Rockfish
- Sablefish (black cod)
- Slope rockfish
- Spiny dogfish
All Alaska saltwater fishing regulations →
Source: Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Most anglers need a Alaska saltwater license or registry: get one here.