Black Cod

Anoplopoma fimbria

The black cod (Anoplopoma fimbria), more accurately called sablefish, is a deep-water fish reaching up to 120 cm in length and 25 kg in weight. Despite its common name, it is not a true cod but belongs to its own family (Anoplopomatidae). It has a sleek, elongated body with a dark grey to black coloration on the back and upper sides, fading to lighter grey below. The skin is smooth and velvety, and two dorsal fins are well separated. Black cod are found throughout the North Pacific from California to Alaska and across to Japan, primarily inhabiting deep continental slopes at depths of 200-2,000 meters, though juveniles and some adults occur in shallower waters accessible to divers. They are long-lived fish, surviving over 90 years, and are slow to mature, not reproducing until 5-7 years of age. Their flesh is extremely rich in omega-3 oils, making them one of the most prized commercial fish in the Pacific. Divers in the Pacific Northwest occasionally encounter juveniles around kelp forests and rocky reefs in waters as shallow as 20-30 meters.