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 Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) Blackcod, Butterfish, Alaska cod The sablefish is actually neither a Cod nor a Butterfish. It ranges in size from 1 to 10 pounds and is found in deep waters off the Pacific Northwest coast. The white flesh of the sablefish is soft-textured and mild-flavored. The meat has a high fat content which give it a rich, buttery yet light taste, it is exceptionally flavorful and an excellent fish for smoking. The texture of the flesh is described as soft and velvety with large white flakes. Because sablefish resembles cod, it commonly is called blackcod, though the species does not belong to the codfish family but instead is a member of the Anoplopomatidae family, a group of fishes confined to the North Pacific Ocean. Sablefish are long-lived, and individuals have been estimated to live longer than 90 years. Available January through September the catch comes mostly from Alaska with the resource found from Southern California to the Bering Sea. Availability is affected by regulations which restrict fishing for this species to a very short season and then it is closed. This practice is known as a pulse fishery.
Due to its high oil content this fish has a very short shelf life and must be used immediately. Some buyers advise that a good quality of fish should be at least 5 pounds.
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