Now that lingcod season has opened in Puget Sound, I'm looking for places to go in the south Sound area. Seattle and south (though I may drive further if the fishing is especially good). I don't have a boat, so I'm pretty much limited to shore and public docks. Uglier than sin, but man do they taste good. Are there any decent spots besides the Des Moines pier?

It's a long haul for you...but if your gonna buy live herring at Buds in Edmonds try the Edmonds fishing pier. I've caught lings along the jetty at the marina. It's not a hotspot but they get a few off the pier.

Have done well off the jetties in Westport and ocean shores largest was about 20lbs on White worm jigs

The area around Deception Pass , around the bridge, can be good but is extremely tide related.

I second deception pass. Picked up 4 or five this last weekend (didn't keep them of course) while waiting to pull the shrimp pots. Its probably a long drive but if you plan for the slack on a day with small changes it's well worth it.
I've also seen some decent lings out by salties on alki. May be worth checking out sometime.

No,no,no...There are NO lings in the Pass . I definately would NOT recommend Deception

But seriously, if you have fresh or live herring you can do well in the Pass from shore just before, during, and the first part of the incoming low slack tide. You get an hour, maybe two before the current will get the best of you.

Camo

Shoot me an e-mail and I'll give you some Velcro lipped places to fish, (just Kidding.) Park on the East end of the Narrows Bridge and walk down the road to the treatment plant on South side of bridge. There are plenty of lings within casting distance along the shoreline North to the train tunnel. If you can get some live herring you will knock the heck out of the lings, flounder and small greenling work great also.

The Edmonds pier is a good spot for lings, all you'll need to do is spend a little time watching the regulars to figure out what's what.

I've caught more lings there when I wasn't trying to, than when I was.

I also seen them up to 25lbs come out of there.

Good luck.

Well, I went down to the Narrows bridge to see if I could get in a few casts today, but couldn't figure out how to get down to the water. I found War Memorial Park, but from what I could tell, all the paths down to the water were fenced off. Was I in the wrong place? Not that I could have done much fishing anyway, considering how windy it was. I've heard the Narrows mentioned as a great spot, but could anyone be more specific on how to get there? I'm not familiar with the area.

just use 80# power pro and fish from the bridge

Arklier,

Go into memorial park follow the road down on the East end (opposite the water) on the South side of bridge. The road will curve south and end up at Treatment plant, cross RR tracks and you are there, fish from that point North to tunnel Lings are along the whole shoreline about 30-50' offshore right now, they will stay in the shallows until about the end of this month. Buy some motor oil, white and green colored twin tail jigs and cast from shore working them deep through the rocks. Good luck, e-mail me if you need more info.

Here is one from shore on Wednesday.

Nice one! Where did you catch it?

Nice Ling!

Thanks.
I caught it off the South Jetty.
Went out on Saturday and got another that was 26 inches and my brother got two at 30 and 31 inches.
I even managed a few sea perch and sea bass to add to my razor clams..
Sunday we got limits of steamers, horse, and geoducks..

Had to take today off to rest!

South jetty? Where's that? I've mostly been hanging around Des Moines, and the fishing there has really sucked. No one has landed any lings since the first few days of the season. I've been out nearly every day, and I can't even say I've had one bite that I could solidly attribute to one. I'm about to give up on that pier.

It is in Westport.