They can grow quite large and there have been specimens caught up to 1.5 metres long. Ling are sometimes mistaken for Red Cod because of their colour and because of the barbels that hang from their lower jaw. Body pinkish yellow, marbled with irregular reddish brown blotches dorsally.

Ling tend to live in deeper waters, up to 700m, but they can be found in shallower areas. Common species. Found between depths of 22 m and 1000 m. Juveniles are found in shallower shelf waters.

They are voracious feeders and will eat almost anything that moves and is small enough. They are even known to eat crayfish by swallowing them whole. Feed mainly on crustaceans such as Munida and scampi and also on fish. Also caught above the bottom when feeding on hoki (Macruronus novaezelandiae) during the hoki spawning season.

Oviparous, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass. Ling are an important commercial fish species, their soft flaky fillet is often used for fish fingers, fish cakes etc.
Daily limit per person, 30, no minimum size. "

Nielsen, J.G., D.M. Cohen, D.F. Markle and C.R. Robins, 1999. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(18):178p. Rome: FAO.