Fish

Ling (common ling)

Maruca

Molva molva

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

10–30 lb.

Depth

100–1,000 ft.

Best time

Daylight.

Found in

6 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A very long, eel-like member of the cod family with a big head, a large mouth full of sharp teeth, a single barbel on the chin, two dorsal fins (the second very long) and a long anal fin. Marbled brown-green above with a dark spot at the rear of the first dorsal fin, and fins edged in white.
Typical size: 10–30 lb.
Maximum size: About 6 ft and over 70 lb.
Diet: Fish (cod, pouting, herring, flatfish), squid and crabs.
Behavior: A big predator that lives in holes in wrecks and rocky reefs, rarely moving far from its lair.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from United Kingdom & Ireland, Scandinavia & Iceland (Norway, Sweden, Denmark), Arctic & North Atlantic Islands, France, Spain & Portugal (Azores, Madeira & Canaries) and Northern & Central Europe. Rocky bottoms and wrecks from Iceland, the Faroes and Norway to Ireland, Britain and the Bay of Biscay.
Habitat: Rocky bottoms and wrecks from Iceland, the Faroes and Norway to Ireland, Britain and the Bay of Biscay.
Depth: 100–1,000 ft.
Fishing depth: On the bottom.
Best season: All year; winter and spring for big fish on deep wrecks.
Best time: Daylight.
Best tides: Neap tides and slack water on deep wrecks.
Best weather / conditions: Calm seas offshore.

What to tie on and what to throw.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Pirk Hooks Gloves

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Rocky bottoms and wrecks from Iceland, the Faroes and Norway to Ireland, Britain and the Bay of Biscay.
Rig up: 30–50 lb class boat rod with a strong multiplier reel. 100–150 lb mono.
Pick your bait: Whole mackerel, mackerel flapper (fillet), squid and cuttlefish. Lures: Big pirks and soft shads with a fish strip.
Fish it: Anchor or drift over a wreck and drop a big fish bait right into it on a short trace; when it bites, pump it up fast before it backs into the wreck.
Time it: Daylight. Neap tides and slack water on deep wrecks.

Fishing techniques: Anchor or drift over a wreck and drop a big fish bait right into it on a short trace; when it bites, pump it up fast before it backs into the wreck.
BigJoe's tip: Use a strong rig with a rotten-bottom weight — ling live in the snaggiest parts of the wreck.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Good eating when fresh.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Firm, white, meaty fillets, great fried, baked or salted (in Norway it's dried into klippfisk).

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: A mouth full of sharp teeth; use long pliers or a T-bar.
Regulations: Few specific rules for anglers, but minimum sizes apply in some countries. Fish from deep water rarely survive release. Every country sets its own rules: sea fishing licenses or registration in some countries, a national or regional license plus a local permit for fresh water, and minimum sizes everywhere. Check before you fish.
Conservation: Keep only what you need; big ling are old fish.

Tap an area to open its fishing map.

Sources & photo credits