Ling
(Molva molva)
Size:
*
Biology: The ling is related to the cod and it’s most common on depths between 100 and 600 meters. In the deep the lings often appear in shoals, and there has been caught ling down to 1000 meters depth. The youngest lings may appear on shallow waters, and it is not unusual to catch small lings from 25 - 100 meters depth. The ling is easy to recognize by its long and slim body. The meat tastes good, not unlike the cod.
The
ling spawn for the first time at the age of six. Spawning
grounds are found on the continental shelf from Portugal and
northward to Iceland in the west, and to the Barents Sea in the north (see map). The ling is a predator feeding
mainly on fish (a
lot of blue whiting), squid, and bottom fauna.
Fishing:
There are no specific season for ling fishing. Fishermen are mainly using
bottom lines. The ling is a popular target for anglers. A big ling
represents a great fight, and the angler must be prepared for a long struggle to
force the strong fish up from the deep. Though you may catch small lings on
swallow waters, most anglers prefer to try on deep waters outside the
coast or in the fjords.
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Map above: Red indicate spawning grounds for ling. Blue shows feeding area. |
This ling was caught by a trawler on 300 meters depth. Length: 186 cm, weighing 42 kg. |
