Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Driller on October 09, 2012, 08:12:32 PM

Title: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: Driller on October 09, 2012, 08:12:32 PM
Has anyone ever caught one?  I caught a small Ling Cod the other day while sturgeon fishing.  It was maybe 8" long.  I couldn't believe it.
Title: Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: Dave on October 09, 2012, 08:42:11 PM
Years ago a buddy, Keith Temple, caught a large burbot, 6 lbs or so, at the mouth of Yale Creek while fishing chinooks.  I have also seen them angled at Stoner, near Prince George.
Title: Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: Bandit420 on October 10, 2012, 01:21:23 PM
Probably just a large freshwater sculpin
Title: Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: Driller on October 10, 2012, 02:35:45 PM
I will try to post a photo tonight.  Trouble is I've only caught a couple of Ling Cod.  I've seen sculpins before and I have some in my fly box.  I'm going all in on this one.  I think this was a freakin Ling Cod.  I studied it pretty good.  THe colours the tail the body shape, the size of the mouth.  It engulphed a chunk of Lamprey that was half the size of the body or close, and the 9-0 hook!  I was really suprised to be able to un hook it and it swam off like nothing happened.  Picture to come tonight.
Title: Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: Driller on October 10, 2012, 06:30:15 PM
http://s1272.beta.photobucket.com/user/Charliemacewan/media/GOPR0143_zps518d9037.jpg.html?sort=3&o=2
Title: Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: troutbreath on October 10, 2012, 06:39:42 PM
cabazon
Title: Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: Driller on October 10, 2012, 07:03:15 PM
Nice one.  I was hoping my picture would show the pattern and colour a bit better.  It sure as hell looked like a Ling cod.  I checked out sculpin pics and bullhead.  It looked nothing like those.  Cabazon photos I see look a little more like it.
Title: Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: coldfinger on October 10, 2012, 07:11:18 PM
When pissed off , did it have horns just above the gill plate, behind the the eyes? If so, it's a BIG freakin Bullhead.
I've caught them up to 18 inches long before. And they looked just like that. Only, for sure, if it was a bullhead, it would have big nasty horns! Awesome fish and a bit of a surprise no doubt.
kool
Title: Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: bbronswyk2000 on October 10, 2012, 07:12:22 PM
cabazon

Thats exactly what it is
Title: Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: Every Day on October 10, 2012, 07:49:19 PM
Did it have lots of teeth? If it did that would eliminate Cabezon.
Title: Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: Rodney on October 10, 2012, 08:54:36 PM
There are over 750 species of sculpin on this planet. In the Fraser River itself, depending on how far upstream you are from the mouth, there are over a dozen species. All of them are commonly called bullhead. While cabezon is a sculpin species, the Fraser River is out of their range as far as I am aware of. Their typical habitat is around kelp beds. The one in the photograph, from what I can see, might be either a great sculpin or a very large prickly sculpin.
Title: Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: Driller on October 10, 2012, 08:56:43 PM
To be honest I dont remember the teeth.  I just remember the smooth skin and the long tapered tail.  At first I was " what the hell is that?". I first said it must be a sculpin, then I was thinking pike minnow, but I ruled that out right away, but then I said "it's a ling cod!". My buddy and I both caught a couple recently and I was sure that's what it was.  Looking at the picture now, it doesn't do it justice.  Ill just have to go and catch another one and take better pics.
Title: Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: StillAqua on October 10, 2012, 09:37:55 PM
Rod called it...it's a sculpin (Cottus, aka bullhead).  Can't tell the species from the photo though. Lots of big ones in the lower Fraser.
Title: Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: Fish Assassin on October 10, 2012, 09:51:41 PM
Another vote for the bullhead
Title: Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: blaydRnr on October 10, 2012, 09:59:50 PM
definitely a juvenile cabezon which belongs to the sculpin family....great eating and common in the lower fraser. i remember catching them in campbell river and the average weight use to range anywhere from 10-20+  pounds.
Title: Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: blaydRnr on October 10, 2012, 10:05:52 PM
 http://www.elasmodiver.com/images/Cabezon.jpg


people always mistaken these fish for the common bullhead, but if you've ever caught one, you'll notice a difference in the length of the body and small scales running lateral down the side.
Title: Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: canso on October 10, 2012, 10:07:46 PM
not sure which sculpin, but it's not a common bullhead we usually catch.
it would have striped fins, and nasty horns.
I like it, good catch
Title: Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: Driller on October 11, 2012, 08:05:55 AM
Blydrunr,
That picture you posted is very close to what it looked like.  So caboza it is ... Or was it calabosa?   Calawosabi??
Title: Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: canso on October 11, 2012, 08:20:43 PM
the people fishing on the docks in richmond eat them.
Title: Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: Tex on October 11, 2012, 10:22:02 PM
Isn't that a rare Fraser River walleye?
Title: Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: Fillibert on October 11, 2012, 11:03:16 PM
the people fishing on the docks in richmond eat them.
I asked, they make soup, too small to bother eating
Title: Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: firstlight on October 12, 2012, 05:38:49 PM
Sure looks like a Bullhead to me.
Title: Re: Ling Cod in the Fraser
Post by: troutbreath on October 12, 2012, 08:55:26 PM
not to me :) cabby, meter running