Lingcod Fishing at the Channel Islands with Capt. JT Lepien

Lingcod fishing with Graphic Slayer Sportfishing is a private trip. It is you and up to three others on the boat with Capt. JT Lepien, and nobody else. We fish out of Oxnard and Ventura, both inshore and out at the Channel Islands. That means Anacapa, Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa. Lingcod is one of the fish we go after, along with rockfish, sheephead, halibut, calico bass, sculpin and the rest of what lives on the reefs. This suits a small group that wants to fish, learn the water and go home with fillets that were handled right. If you have never caught a lingcod, that is fine. If you have your own gear and know what you are doing, there is a trip built for that too.

When to go. I am not going to print a lingcod season or a list of months on this page. Conditions and rules decide that, and I would rather you hear it straight from the captain than read a guess here. Call or text JT at (805) 302-1901 and he will tell you what lingcod fishing looks like for the dates you have in mind. What I can tell you is the trip schedule. The inshore trip runs Mon to Fri. The island trips and the Bare Bones trip run 7 days a week. The outer island run to Santa Rosa goes weather permitting, and JT reads the forecast about seven days out before he commits to it.

What it costs. Every price is for the whole boat, up to 4 guests. The Half Day Inshore trip is 8 hours, 6 AM to 2 PM, Mon to Fri, for $1,085. It works local inshore and nearshore spots for rockfish, sheephead, halibut, bonito, calico bass and more. The 3/4 Day Island trip is 9 hours, 6 AM to 3 PM, for $1,200, fishing Santa Cruz and Anacapa and whatever those grounds are giving up that day. The Full Day Hunting Pelagics trip is 10 hours, 6 AM to 4 PM, for $1,314, aimed at yellowtail and white seabass. The Outer Island Full Day to Santa Rosa is 11 hours, 6 AM to 5 PM, for $1,657. The 3/4 Day Bare Bones (BYOT) trip is 9 hours, 6 AM to 3 PM, for $1,000. On the regular trips JT brings the rods and the bait. If lingcod is your main target, ask JT which of these trips fits best.

The boat and the captain. You fish aboard the Graphic Slayer, a 22' Westcoaster Bayrunner. Your captain is John "JT" Lepien, who has spent decades fishing these waters. He is also a cook, and that shapes how he handles fish. JT has been practicing ikejime since 2010, long before most people had heard the word. Every fish that comes over the rail is ikejime'd and bled to protect its quality, texture and flavor. That includes your lingcod. The point is simple. A fish handled with care tastes better on the plate. Graphic Slayer Sportfishing holds a 4.7 from 23 reviews on FishingBooker if you want to hear from people who have been out with JT.

Where to meet and how the day starts. Trips run out of Oxnard and Ventura. JT will confirm the exact meeting spot with you when you book. Every trip leaves at 6:00 AM, so plan to be there and ready to go on time. From there it depends on the trip you picked. The inshore day stays on local spots close to home. The island days make the run out to Anacapa and Santa Cruz, and the outer island day makes the long run to Santa Rosa. JT reads the water that morning and puts you where the fishing makes sense.

What to bring. On the regular trips, JT brings the rods, the bait and the know-how. You bring a fishing license and lunch. The Bare Bones (BYOT) trip is different. You bring your own gear, with four anglers max and three rod setups each. That trip comes with a licensed captain, the Graphic Slayer, a cooler and ice. If you want live bait on the Bare Bones trip, bring cash for it. For anything else, like what to wear or what else to pack for the day, ask JT when you book.

Do I need a fishing license? Yes. Every guest brings their own license. That is one of the two things JT asks you to bring, along with lunch. If you are not sure which license you need or where to get it, ask JT when you call and he will point you in the right direction.

How many lingcod can I keep? That is a regulation question, and this page is not the place to answer it. Rules can change, and JT will give you the current picture for your trip date. What I can tell you is that whatever you do keep is ikejime'd and bled on the boat, so it goes home in the best shape it can be for the table.

Can we go out to Santa Rosa for lingcod? Santa Rosa is the outer island trip, and the weather decides it. The Outer Island Full Day runs 11 hours, 6 AM to 5 PM, for $1,657, and it fishes both inshore and offshore for quality fish. Call or text JT before you book this one. He reads the forecast about seven days out and will tell you whether it looks like a go.

How to book. Use the Book a trip button on graphicslayersportfishing.com, or call or text JT directly at (805) 302-1901. Tell him you want to go lingcod fishing, give him the dates you are looking at and how many people are coming, up to four. If you plan to bring your own gear, say so and he will set you up on the Bare Bones trip. JT will confirm the trip, the meeting spot and what the fishing looks like for your day.