Lingcod

Photo: Pat Webster @underwaterpat · © all rights reserved

Large resident lingcod dominate the sunken wrecks at Porteau Cove, their mottled camouflage making them easy to miss until you are almost on top of them. They are extremely territorial and the same individuals can be found guarding the same patch of hull across multiple dive seasons. Porteau Cove's protection as a marine park means these lingcod have been free from fishing pressure for decades, allowing them to reach impressive sizes of up to a metre in length.