NorCal Kayak Anglers

General => Fish Talk => Fish ID sub-forum => Topic started by: sebast on April 10, 2016, 12:54:58 PM

Title: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: sebast on April 10, 2016, 12:54:58 PM
I thought this would be discussed, and probably it was, but can't find it. And google helped a bit, but still not completely.

How do you identify one?

For example, this in picture, dark-red color...

Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: AlexB on April 10, 2016, 01:03:37 PM
I could be mistaken, but that sure looks like a cabezon to me...


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Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: AlexB on April 10, 2016, 01:06:38 PM
Lingcod- Big ol' toothy mouth. Even the little guys have sharp teeth.

Greenling - Little mouth without much in the way of teeth.


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Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: Davefish on April 10, 2016, 01:30:43 PM
+1 for Cabezon
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: B0B on April 10, 2016, 01:33:51 PM
Yea looks like cabezon the big fins and the things on its nose stivking out.

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Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: sebast on April 10, 2016, 02:05:08 PM
Funny, when it was in the water I w as 100% sure it's cab. But then i thought the head was too small... thanks, guys!
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: DG on April 10, 2016, 02:47:18 PM
Yeah looks like Cab to me.  After catching more you will nail it but until you have it down I wouldn't keep any unless you are sure.  I started with a laminated species informational with pictures. 
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: LoletaEric on April 10, 2016, 03:19:52 PM
Teeth and mouth size are likely your best way to ID when in doubt.  Like Alex said, lingcod have sharp teeth, and they're big enough to make you bleed quickly.  A greenling has a mouth so small it would be hard to get your thumb in there up to the second knuckle, but their teeth are so small that you would be unlikely to bleed from sticking your finger all the way down its throat to get a hook out.

A cabezon has a 'comb' of teeth - many small ones on what's like a bar.  They can be identified by the fact that they have no scales.  Don't ever stick your finger down the throat of a cab - you'll not only bleed, but you may also lose flesh or even bone.
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: LoletaEric on April 10, 2016, 03:23:07 PM
Also, an 18" greenling would be huge - that's a good fact to remember.
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: piski on April 10, 2016, 05:17:08 PM
Also, I'm wondering if you're confusing blue lings (like the one in Eric's upper pic) with greenlings. Lings come in 2 main colors, with variations in between. As said, teeth are the giveaway.

That's one pretty greenling, Eric.
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: Cabeza de Martillo on April 10, 2016, 05:33:02 PM
Definitely a cab in your pic....cabs also have eyebrows....strange but true.
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: Yowlie on April 10, 2016, 09:05:52 PM
Also, I'm wondering if you're confusing blue lings (like the one in Eric's upper pic) with greenlings. Lings come in 2 main colors, with variations in between. As said, teeth are the giveaway.

That's one pretty greenling, Eric.

Yes, that is a beauty.  That would be the rock greenling.  We also often see the kelp greenling which has two color variations, based on sex.  Females are golden with an even spotted pattern.  Males are flat brown with bright blue small "boxes" on them.  If you see one underwater next to some blistered bull kelp, you will see why.  perfect camo IMO.  Greenlings and lings are close relatives biologically. 

female:
http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/1288

male:
http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/2083

Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: Desertdiver on April 10, 2016, 11:01:00 PM
Sarcastic Fringehead possibly
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: sebast on April 10, 2016, 11:33:29 PM
Sarcastic Fringehead possibly

I looked at pics, I would sh$t myself if I caught something like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6S6vJHy6fA
Seriously though, the one I had was, if I remember correctly, at least 16", and according to wiki max Sarcastic fringehead is 12".

What confused me was that all cabs I caught so far had large head. But googling more this was definitely a cab. Thanks again, all.
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: Archie Marx on April 11, 2016, 12:13:53 AM
Sarcastic Fringehead possibly

I looked at pics, I would sh$t myself if I caught something like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6S6vJHy6fA
Seriously though, the one I had was, if I remember correctly, at least 16", and according to wiki max Sarcastic fringehead is 12".

What confused me was that all cabs I caught so far had large head. But googling more this was definitely a cab. Thanks again, all.

We catch them in Monterey every now and again. RacinRob got bit by one a few years ago  :smt044 :smt044.
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: RacinRob on April 11, 2016, 12:22:47 AM
Yep!! Little bastard!
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: sebast on April 11, 2016, 12:24:52 AM
Are they tasty?
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: crash on April 11, 2016, 06:06:40 AM

What confused me was that all cabs I caught so far had large head. But googling more this was definitely a cab. Thanks again, all.

Cabezon literally translates from Spanish as "having a big head".  tmyk
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: Dale L on April 11, 2016, 06:43:50 AM
At least in the pic it looks a little atypical in the head and body for a cab, maybe just the angle of the pic, but definitely a cab.

Cabezon, My favorite eating fish of the RCG complex.
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: Cabeza de Martillo on April 11, 2016, 06:49:45 AM
I got a question for you....what the fuck is that fish in your avatar?

Every time I look at it I scratch my head  :smt102
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: sebast on April 11, 2016, 08:31:09 AM
I got a question for you....what the fuck is that fish in your avatar?

Every time I look at it I scratch my head  :smt102
No idea. Should I start new id thread? ;)
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: Cabeza de Martillo on April 11, 2016, 08:35:21 AM
I got a question for you....what the fuck is that fish in your avatar?

Every time I look at it I scratch my head  :smt102
No idea. Should I start new id thread? ;)

Seriously? Did you catch it?
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: sebast on April 11, 2016, 08:37:54 AM
Nope. That was the only fish i had on my pc (from Internet ) when I joined NCKA
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: Cabeza de Martillo on April 11, 2016, 09:22:34 AM
Monkfish?
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: BigJim on April 11, 2016, 09:29:49 AM
Beautiful pics Eric!

 :smt007

Don't ever stick your finger down the throat of a cab - you'll not only bleed, but you may also lose flesh or even bone.

Unless you have dive gloves on...

 :smt002

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: DG on April 11, 2016, 10:00:56 AM
Jim was probably pulling out an Abalone
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: B0B on April 11, 2016, 11:50:00 AM
I got a question for you....what the fuck is that fish in your avatar?

Every time I look at it I scratch my head  :smt102
I too would like to know.....

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Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: NowhereMan on April 11, 2016, 08:50:51 PM
I got a question for you....what the fuck is that fish in your avatar?

Every time I look at it I scratch my head  :smt102
No idea. Should I start new id thread? ;)

Looks like a bullfrog...
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: FishingForTheCure on April 11, 2016, 09:10:18 PM
Chupacabra
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: crash on April 11, 2016, 10:09:16 PM
Chupacabra

That literally translates from Cuban to English as What The Fuck!? 

tmyk
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: sebast on April 11, 2016, 11:14:50 PM
Quote from: Cabeza de Martillo on Today at 06:49:45 AM
I got a question for you....what the fuck is that fish in your avatar?

Every time I look at it I scratch my head  :smt102

Chupacabra

That literally translates from Cuban to English as What The Fuck!? 

tmyk

which makes it infinite loop.
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: Sin Coast on April 12, 2016, 12:07:39 PM
I believe it's a Lophius piscatorius aka anglerfish aka monkfish.
(http://iusarecords.com/RecordImages/828_425_PhotoDiverWithFish.jpg)
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: Dale L on April 12, 2016, 01:36:02 PM
I wanna know more about THAT picture, I always thought they were a deep water fish.
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: Sin Coast on April 12, 2016, 01:49:29 PM
Thats the world spear record for that species. 84 pounds. Looks like they spear em in Portugal w/out tanks...so they must come into shallow water (I also thought they were like 200+ ft deep).
Title: Re: Lingcod vs. greenling
Post by: Empty Pockets on July 21, 2016, 10:39:01 PM
Cab fosho


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