The Fishing Report

Fishing seasons & conditions by region

Sablefish (Black Cod) Anoplopoma fimbria

Sablefish (Black Cod) Size, Range & Diet

Typical size	24–32 in, 4–10 lb
Maximum	up to 45 in and about 55 lb
Lifespan	up to about 90 years
Range	Deep water of the northeastern Pacific from Baja California north past Oregon, Washington and British Columbia to the Gulf of Alaska, the Aleutians and the Bering Sea.
Habitat	Soft mud bottom out on the continental slope, in deep shelf gullies and inside steep coastal fjords, mostly below 600 ft.
Diet	Squid, octopus, shrimp and small schooling fish taken near the bottom in deep water.

Sizes are typical rod-and-reel and documented maximum figures, not size limits — see the regulations links below for the rules where you fish.

How to Identify a Sablefish (Black Cod)

Slate-gray to blackish overall, slightly paler belly
Two well-separated dorsal fins (not one spiny dorsal like rockfish)
Slender, slightly elongate, soft body with small scales
Forked tail; fairly small mouth
Faint vertical bands on juveniles

Tell it apart: Two clearly separated dorsal fins on a uniformly dark, soft-bodied deep-water fish identify sablefish, distinct from any single-spiny-dorsal rockfish (and not a true cod despite the name).

How to Catch Sablefish (Black Cod)

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Available year-round on the deep slope — deep-drop a squid-baited gangion rig to 1000-plus feet, often on an electric reel for the depth.GearDeep-drop gangion rig Heavy deep-drop weights Electric deep-drop combo
Available year-round on the deep slope — deep-drop a squid-baited gangion rig to 1000-plus feet, usually on an electric reel for the depth.GearDeep-drop gangion rig Heavy deep-drop weights Electric deep-drop combo

When & Where Sablefish (Black Cod) Are in Season

Peak Good Fair Slow

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Northern California Offshore
Pacific Northwest Offshore

Sablefish (Black Cod) Regulations

CaliforniaCalifornia Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Marine Region NOAA Fisheries (West Coast Region)PFMC WashingtonWashington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW)OregonOregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW)

Always check local regulations — seasons, size, and bag limits vary by state and species, and change year to year. When in doubt, release.

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