(Anaplopoma Fimbria)

Other names
Black Cod, Butterfish.

Availability
Year round.

Depth of catch
80 to 1,000 fathoms (480 to 6,000 feet).

Characteristics
Sablefish feed on fishes, worms and crustaceans. They live over soft
ocean bottoms in deep water from the Bering Sea to Isla Cedros, Baja
California. These streamlined fish are slate black to a greenish color on the
top surface, shading to lighter gray on the belly. They range up to 40
pounds, but average approximately 8 pounds. They are particularly suited
for smoking because of their moderately high fat content and rich oily flavor.

Range of shelf life
Three to 7 days, depending on the quality of handling the fish has received.

How to store
Whole fish should be buried in ice with the belly cavity full of ice, since this
is where deterioration happens most quickly. Adding ice to the belly slows
this enzymatic process.