Black Cod

[asmith]

I bought black cod from Skillet several years ago and it is now my favorite salt water fish, even better than halibut.  I season mine with salt/pepper/garlic/lemon pepper, add some diced fresh shallots on it.  Then pan sear in a cast iron on med/high heat, skin down.  Add a slab of butter and start basting it with the fat/butter mixture till about half way cooked, then finish in a 400 oven.  Just toss the entire cast iron pan in there. 

You either like it or you dont.  Im the only one in my family that likes it and I cant get enough of it.

The rest of your family has bad taste!

I concur!

[Fishhuntmike]

Curious (I hate Costco crowds) I had to see what the fuss was and discovered they had "black cod" or sablefish for $6.99/lb.  Definitely not the Northern Pacific coast black rockfish (seabass) that im familiar with from fishing charters as a kid and in personal boats and kayaks as an adult.  They also had fresh rockfish fillets for $6.49/lb.  I bought a package of the rockfish fillets that were packaged today as an experiment for freshness (I never buy unfrozen fish from a grocery store).  The fillets were fresh clean smelling with a very very tiny hint of "fishiness".  I usually consider a "fishy" smell as the tell tail sign of unfresh fish.  Hopefully I will like it.  Price seems very good.  Ill buy a bunch more in the future if it tastes anyrhing like im used to eating from the sea caught by my own hands.

[pianoman9701]

This is a great recipe that I've done. https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-nobu-miso-marinated-black-cod-117238

[Skillet]

Yeah, I mean not to trounce skillet's thread here, but if costco is selling black cod/sablefish for $10/lb, I'm going to buy a small truckload.

They had chilean seabass for $17.99 during covid, and I bought a truckload of that!

Haven't seen it in my costco in Idaho yet.

@Skillet - thanks for keeping the deals posted, my chops water looking at them and maybe if I've got a westside trip planned for ferndale I'll set something up in the future.

Hey no worries at all, this isn't my thread!

Fish prices have been very interesting thing since Covid hit. Especially the prices of predominantly export market fish, like black cod.

Here is an excerpt from my Co-op's marketing update, just released today.  I think it tells a good part of the story, and gives you an insider's view of the fish world-

"All of our sablefish is sold at this point. We are one of the few processors that aren’t underwater on container loads of last years’ fish. Our halibut inventory is down to the bare minimum. As we exit the fiscal year, we are working closely with the accounting team to value the remaining inventory accurately. We would like to finish out a successful year with no surprises and send the final settlement checks out to the fleet with confidence and pride.
 
As sablefish quotas go up, the major market in Japan has more options to buy inventory and we end up with lower wholesale prices. The yen has recovered slightly, but currently is at the worst exchange rate in 30 years, and still has a way to go before we are back at traditional levels. There is a large volume of BC inventory in Japan at this time. That will have to clear out before new product is considered this spring. The sablefish year class of 2014 is expected hit the 4/5 size range in a big way this year. That value of the 4/5 size is expected to be down considerably from the closing prices of 2022. The lower price for 4/5’s will get them back in the price range of Japan and China. This will help find a home for the big volumes we expect this year.  Our fillet crew will be a big part of getting more out of the 4/5’s.  We have strong domestic fillet markets. They prefer the larger sizes when available. Our plan is to focus on fillets and portions as time allows at the plant. Fishing is expected to be very good on the opener. The plant is well setup with excellent bait sold at cost and a crew ready to offload your fish."

If there's one thing I like almost as much as talking about fishing, it's talking about fish markets.  There is a LOT that goes on behind the scenes to land that $10.99 black cod at Costco...  if it is decent quality and not filets off of the "pickles", it sounds like a great deal.  Most likely these are 2022 fish they're trying to move out before the 2023 fish start hitting the ice.

If you're willing to put in some work and take a little risk, it's a definite "buy" in my book at that price.  Black cod re-freezes really well, just freeze it fast if you plan on storing it.  Spread it out in your freezer after vacuum packing and you should have a great product for months to come. 

[206]

Saw it at Costco yesterday.  Small fresh Wild fillets @ $10.99.  pass

Bought a really nice thick (from end to end) cod fillet for 8.99 lb.  Couldn't pass this piece.

Black cod $10.99

Gadus macrocephalus is the name for Pacific cod (googled that up) 8.99  Pacific cod was previously frozen and thawed.  I would have prefered to thaw it out myself.

[pianoman9701]

Saw it at Costco yesterday.  Small fresh Wild fillets @ $10.99.  pass

Bought a really nice thick (from end to end) cod fillet for 8.99 lb.  Couldn't pass this piece.

Black cod $10.99

Gadus macrocephalus is the name for Pacific cod (googled that up) 8.99  Pacific cod was previously frozen and thawed.  I would have prefered to thaw it out myself.

That is different from Sable. Anoplopoma fimbria is the black cod.

[Duckslayer89]

Saw it at Costco yesterday.  Small fresh Wild fillets @ $10.99.  pass

Bought a really nice thick (from end to end) cod fillet for 8.99 lb.  Couldn't pass this piece.

Black cod $10.99

Gadus macrocephalus is the name for Pacific cod (googled that up) 8.99  Pacific cod was previously frozen and thawed.  I would have prefered to thaw it out myself.

That is different from Sable. Anoplopoma fimbria is the black cod.

P Cod is just fish and chips stuff. The stuff they catch on deadliest catch in the pots. We ate more P Cod on the boats up there than halibut and black cod though. Salted with butter.

[bearhunter99]

We caught a few black cod out of Neah a couple weeks ago. When they filleted the cod they took the skin off. Would they still be able to be smoked without the skin on?  Thanks


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[fowl smacker]

We caught a few black cod out of Neah a couple weeks ago. When they filleted the cod they took the skin off. Would they still be able to be smoked without the skin on?  Thanks


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Yes, just place it on one of the fine mesh mats for your BBQ.  You can find them in most BBQ accessory aisles.