How do you target Greenling?

Hi a wondering if any of you know a way to maximize catching greenling and minimize other RF? Thanks!

I see tons in the shallows, not sure on targeting them by way of hook though.

Catching a greenling by hook while minimizing RF by catch?
Not sure that is possible. If so I don't know a way.
But if you increase your RF catch you will certainly get a greenling as by catch sooner or later.

If I'm just looking for greenling, I'll use raw market shrimp for bait and will try to fish shallow, preferably around kelp.  They're also big fans of 4 inch flukes rigged Texas-style and pitched into kelp beds.  Get your stuff on the bottom, keep it small, and you should get greenling.

Wish that you catch something else then, Wham! a greenling!
That's how it was at shelter cove.  Wish I would not catch anymore Lings then, Wham! another Ling

Hope this helps but I guess using a much smaller jighead won't hurt.

If I'm just looking for greenling, I'll use raw market shrimp for bait and will try to fish shallow, preferably around kelp.  They're also big fans of 4 inch flukes rigged Texas-style and pitched into kelp beds.  Get your stuff on the bottom, keep it small, and you should get greenling.

I've had greenlings hit a 7" swim bait that it could never get into it's mouth but for the most part I'd echo Claymans advice cept I'd use squid tentacles. Of course then you might have to throw back some cabbies.

I'm curious as greenlings are my least favorite meal why do you want to catch them.  Remember it's OK to use them as bait but if you do they need to be keeper size at least.

I've caught them on 4" irons, but have caught most on 1.5-3" grubs or tubes (white, orange, char., brown glitter) with scent or tipped with small piece of squid/shrimp on a small J-hook.

I put some squid on the hook on a 4oz jig head ( red ) with a white tail. It was a 19" and That is my one and only greenling that I ever seen, it was by Elephant rock, Bodega bay/ Tomales. ( 6-22-12 )

Maybe praying may work too.

Scubaluis

Thanks for the replies.  I want to try for the biggest greenling I can catch, just cause it's fun, and catch ling bait.

I usually only catch one or two in an entire day of fishing...usually one.

Greenling seem to work better than other RF when looking for hitch hikers. All of my best Lings have been from freaked out greenling.

I used to catch them often on small rubbertails, like little zoom flukes.

Yep, lingcod love them some greenling!

+1 for small hook and small bait.  They don' t call them Ling's candies for nothing. 

The knockoff lucanus jigs in 3oz in the shallows seem to work well too. I used to catch a million of them while shore fishing using just a strip of squid on a 1/0 hook, leaving it just sitting still on the bottom.

I've caught them on 4" irons, but have caught most on 1.5-3" grubs or tubes (white, orange, char., brown glitter) with scent or tipped with small piece of squid/shrimp on a small J-hook.

Remember that one windy day I couldn't keep the greenling off.  That was a 4" white iron.  I'm of the opinion that anything <4" and white will catch them pretty good.

-Allen

In close & using mussels for bait

+1 for small hook and small bait.  They don' t call them Ling's candies for nothing. 

wish i knew that when i threw the last one back.still havnt caught a keeper ling yet