Fishing for Sablefish (Black Cod)

Sablefish, better known as black cod, is a species often overlooked by recreational fisherman on the west coast—mainly because they live in deep water along the continental shelf, and reeling in up to 800′ of line for a bait check is a lot of work. But with access to advanced electric reels, this fishery has become way more efficient and accessible.

The common misconception is that you must fish in 800′ to 1,000′ of water. Maybe in Alaska, sure. But off the coast of Vancouver Island, we have ten different canyons anywhere from 15 to 40 miles offshore, depending on where you fish out of, and the structure you’re looking for is the same. Find those canyon edges or dropoffs and fish the flats and gradual slopes at the top in 500′ to 600′ of water before it drops off the ledge into the abyss.

Sablefish/Black Cod Fishing Gear

You can fish these guys the same as you would fish for halibut, with a spreader bar and a 2-lb weight. You can even use the same baits. In fact, you’ll probably catch halibut as bycatch. Make sure it’s not an arrowtooth flounder or turbot before you gaff it. They look very similar to halibut at first glance, but once you see the teeth it’s easy to tell—that’s no halibut!

The biggest mistake people using electric reels make is bringing the fish up too quickly or full throttle—full speed is meant for bait checks. Slow it down during the fight (think of how fast you’d reel manually). Sablefish have smaller, softer mouths, so keep that in mind when selecting your bait and hook size. Sometimes less is more out there. A 5/0 treble hook with a 7/0 J-hook trailer on 100-lb mono will get the job done.

Safety is the biggest thing to keep in mind with this fishery. Venturing offshore requires the right weather window, the proper boat, safety gear, and experience. Think of it as going out for tuna—it’s always best to go in pairs or have a “buddy boat.” The reason black cod is so expensive is because it’s not an easy fishery to access, but when the weather cooperates, we’re able to harvest some of the best eating fish off our coastline, if not the world.

This article appeared in Island Fisherman magazine, never miss another issue—Subscribe today!