[1] A slightly larger, extinct species, Ophiodon ozymandias, is known from fossils from the Late Miocene of Southern California.

[2] Ophiodon elongatus is native to the North American west coast from Shumagin Islands in the Gulf of Alaska to Baja California, Mexico.

[6] Lingcod typically has a large head and mouth where the upper jaw extends posteriorly past the eyes.

One explanation includes that parasites may cause physiological damage to the fish, producing blueness as a result.

[9] Ophiodon elongatus is native to the North American west coast from the Shumagin Islands in the Gulf of Alaska to Baja California, Mexico.

[13] Tagging studies have shown lingcod is a largely nonmigratory species, with colonization and recruitment occurring in localized areas only.

At the juvenile life stage, lingcod live on sandy ocean bottoms with eelgrass or kelp beds near the shore.

[16] As Lingcod approach adulthood, they move to more rocky habitats or into seaweed, kelp, and eelgrass beds.

[18] Such interannual nest fidelity coupled with great precision of the site is one of the first recorded examples of such behaviors in temperate marine fish.

[18] A female Lingcod may lay up to 500,000 eggs in a nest, which she will place under rocks or rocky crevices within a male's territory.

The second type of behavior includes a male in a sentry post and providing active defense when any other fish would swim close.

Initially they inhabit eelgrass beds, then move to flat, sandy areas that are not the typical habitat of older lingcod.

They eventually settle in habitats of similar relief and substrate as older lingcod but remain at shallower depths for several years.

An adult male can be distinguished externally from a female by the presence of a small, conical papilla behind the anal vent.

Up to age two, males and females grow at similar rates, with both reaching an average length of 45 centimeters (18 in).

[24][25] More specifically, in preparation for determining the age of a Lingcod, the fourth to eighth rays on the second dorsal fin are used due to having the highest accuracy and readability.

This usually provides 5–6 ray sections that can be examined under a microscope slide in addition to two layers of medium viscosity mounting fluid.

[26] One problem associated with using fin rays to age older fish is the center may be resorbed, resulting in the loss of the first two annuli.

[13] "Lingcod are voracious predators, feeding on nearly anything they can fit in their mouths, including invertebrates and many species of fish, such as herring (Clupea pallasii), salmon, and Pacific hake (Merluccius productus).

This provides lingcod protective measures for their survival due to factors such as their population status, sensitivity to habitat alteration, and/or recreational, commercial, or tribal importance.

[16] Such kelp and eelgrass beds are very susceptible to natural and anthropogenic impacts and thus are declining worldwide,[28] pushing younger Lingcod to more structurally complex habitats such as hard and mixed substrates.

When trawls are used to harvest Lingcod, there are varying degrees of disruption to the ocean floor which impacts habitat.

It has been reported that charter boat fishermen in Washington, CA use an alternative bait, large flatfish, to better target Lingcod while decreasing yelloweye rockfish bycatch.

[15] Commercial harvest equipment varies by sector but can include different hook-and-line gear, gill nets, trawls, and traps.

[13] Historically, Lingcod has been harvested by many indigenous coastal populations within Southeast, Southcentral, and Western Alaska.

These tribes mentioned and many more, have deep and rich fishing traditions and connections to the ocean which may have provided lingcod symbolism in addition to being a resource.

Additionally, it is said that the lingcod may have been created by a powerful deity as a predator to control the overpopulation of other fish species.

This is due to Lingcod's association with strength and resilience which reflects Peter's faithfulness and courage in preaching the Gospel in the face of persecution and hardship.

[30] Lingcod also has a significant role in the Celtic culture as its fierce demeanor and predatory nature represent warrior-like qualities of strength and power.

For example, seeing the lingcod's baleful eyes from the depths of the ocean could mean good fortune, or it could mean impending danger.