2000 Feet Deep Black Cod on Electric Reels (Island Near Juneau)

My friends and I took over Shelter Lodge, an isolated island only reachable by boat near Juneau, Alaska. Friends of mine have owned Shelter Lodge for 39 years, handed down through generations. Our main target was to search for the infamous black cod, one of the most expensive and prized commercial fish in the world. Heavy in omega 3 and 6 oils, which make the snow white meat incredibly rich, leaving a melt in your mouth taste and velvety texture that can take on almost any seasoning or cooking type. Japanese buyers grade black cod by depth with the deeper caught fish having higher oil content, making for a higher and more pricey sashimi grade. Despite their name, they do not belong to the cod family. This fish is by far my best eating fish, period!
Black cod, also known as sablefish or butterfish, live on muddy bottoms and have no air bladder so if they break off, they can swim straight back down to the depths. They can live past 90 years and scientists determine their age by counting rings on their otoliths (ear bones). Adult black cod average 28 inches in length and 8 pounds but fish up to 45 inches and 55 pounds have been landed in Alaska.
Black cod live in depths of 1,500 to 2,000 ft and were only caught by commercial fisherman until recently. The Lodge figured out how to catch the cod in the dark deep depths with hook and lines on electric reels! At that time there was no limit but soon after the commercial fisherman saw what they had learned and got the limit codified. Now the limit is eight fish per year for non-residents and only four a day. Black cod can be tricky to catch as you’ll see in the video as they twist the lines all the way for 2,000 feet and can snap off during the gaff. And they're not that common as it took us three days to get our limits.
Please like and comment on my KZbin video - really appreciate all your help!
SUBSCRIBE to learn more about fishing and hunting - thank you!
www.youtube.co...
THANKS FOR WATCHING!
_____
#blackcod #sablefish #butterfish #alaska #alaskafishing #electricreel #halibut #halibutfishing #deepsea #deepseafishing #juneau #juneaualaska #shelterlodge #Anoplopomafimbria

[@donkeyjam1]

Man if you can find a woman who gets that excited over hauling fish up from deep water with an electric reel, she's a keeper! Nice informative video!

[@AlanFong]

You got that right!

[@whonnock4752]

There is a HUGE blackcod fishery in British Columbia. Exact same fish as in AK.

[@Eric-zs6rd]

I'm in Washington but I catch them often off the west coast of vancouver island. Last year halibut fishing it was pretty much instant hook ups once I got the gear on bottom. There were so many the school was following the hooked fish right up to the surface

[@mattmain237]

Alaska is on my list to charter! Thanks Alan!

[@AlanFong]

You should! It's fun and Alaska DFG takes care of their resources

[@mattmain237]

@@AlanFong - I love how much fun you and your family have on these trips! Thats what makes these videos so good!

[@AlanFong]

thanks most are friends of mine and sometimes I have openings and i post on FB and its filled in hours lol

[@fishingaddict5638]

What an awesome trip! Looks soo much fun. Alaska trip is on my bucket list of things to do. Thanks for sharing.

[@AlanFong]

We caught lots halibut too and it will be done pretty soon

[@dannyshewey3691]

Looks like you all had a great time!!

[@AlanFong]

Always have a great time fishing anywhere I go! But Alaska is special place

[@wmsymms]

Good Times! Thanks for the show. Fish On 🎣

[@AlanFong]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@fishduckdog]

Thanks for sharing!

[@AlanFong]

You bet!

[@darrylmcleman6456]

Smoked Alaska Black Cod is my favorite fish! CHEERS from Westcoast Canada!

[@AlanFong]

Yes it's a very oily fish great smoked. I haven't found a way it's not good!

[@stevecarlisle3323]

Catch them in BC, same fish.😂🇨🇦

[@tomhuynh7556]

Interesting. How big is the sinker to get to 2000 ft?

[@AlanFong]

we use a 4# weight to get down there

[@yenceOfHungary]

Ma vásároltam 10 kg fagyasztott black cod fish filet Litua-Norway tengeri megjelöléssel. Ilyen hideg vízre nem mennék rá, a hajóra sem. Én csak egy hungarian fisherman vagyok, sweet water fisher. 👋😁

[@pascalb1974]

thanks for sharing your footage!!!!!!lot of good info !!!!!!

[@AlanFong]

Thanks for watching! going again in 2024

[@pascalb1974]

@@AlanFong how far from Juneau are you fishing?thanks

[@AlanFong]

We take a boat ride to and Island about ten miles from Juneau where Shelter Lodge is. You can google Shelter Lodge as they have a great web site about the island

[@pascalb1974]

@@AlanFong ok thanks for the info

[@ifish28]

Looks very good. You guys have so much fun. May I know how much cost for the charter per day? And may I have charter contact? Thanks 👍

[@AlanFong]

You can go online and look at the lodge that we stay at. (Shelter Lodge) We stay five days and fish four days. We target the black cod first then halibut, rockfish and silver salmon.

[@ifish28]

@@AlanFong thanks Mr Fong 👍

[@laniroblox10]

Hey grandpa great video, and when can I get the steam fish?

[@AlanFong]

This coming week lol

[@thisisus.504]

Wife came in and heard the video. She did say black cod right?

[@AlanFong]

Yes Black cod the best eating fish there is. There are other sub species but nothing like the alaska black cod.

[@bigtey1]

😂

[@dannyneihart1821]

I wonder how much anchor line they put out?

[@AlanFong]

We don't anchor as we drift. Takes a lot of boat control to be able to catch and keep from getting all tangled up!

[@tarpontail2750]

Sablefish are in the Pacific and the Atlantic

[@AlanFong]

Yes there are different species of the black cod. The ones in Alaska are bigger in size and taste different.

[@marcrizzie]

hahaahah. "here we are in Shitidonno, Alaska"

[@AlanFong]

I'll be there in the end of August catching black cod, halibut, squid, silvers and rock fish!

[@lipprippers]

Wow

[@AlanFong]

Different fishing but loads fun and good eating

[@bryanbowles09]

Theres black cod in canada

[@AlanFong]

I don't know but there black cod off Monterey but their different subspecies and only get to 3-8 pounds. Ones in Alaska get up over twenty pounds and taste much better than the ones caught in Monterey.

[@ejdakins]

The void would have been way better with out the audio !

[@AlanFong]

We always have a problem with the audio because of the wind. Seems to always be blowing. On this trip in Alaska it blew most time over 25 mph

[@ejdakins]

@@AlanFong Alan that was funny, It wasn't the wind blowing in the audio it was the woman's voices that I found, how should I say it , Loud ! , Great video though I did enjoy it

[@curtisstickler9667]

Looks like the black cod will be gone in a short amount of time just like the charter fleet did to the halibut fishery around southeast too. Personally I think electric reels should be banned for sport fishing. Not sport in a reel that Rees it’s self in.

[@AlanFong]

Alaska really protects there fishery. The black cod are taken by the commerical long liners and they have a quota. There are just a handful of guys that fish deep for them. I don't think anyone could reel one up at 2000ft down. Takes an electric reel 15-20 minutes to get it up. You still have to set the drag and the speed as if you were reeling it up.

[@Settlingintoalaskaliving]

Thank you Alan…for taking the time to film that, we just moved to Alaska and I had no idea that you could fish for those, how do you prepare them, what do they taste like?

[@AlanFong]

There the best eating fish far by none. The commercial guys send most there catch to Japan then they process some to send back here to the states. In Japanese restaurants you get an 8oz serving for $50 and up. You can put miso on it and bake or eat raw too. I steam it chinese style and fry with panko & flour delicious!

[@scottsimmons2342]

You can get miso black cod at Costco and see how great it is.

[@stevecarlisle3323]

Black Cod (Sablefish) and NO they are Not a different fish when they go from Canada to Alaska, and back and forth. 😂😂😂🇨🇦

[@joshuabradley5776]

What a fun fishing trip 🎣🎣

[@AlanFong]

Yes fun n rewarding. I go every other year and this was my 8th time

[@jameskramer5614]

What's with the glow beads next to the hooks what does that do

[@AlanFong]

fishing down 1700ft its really dark so glow beads like a flashlight down there

[@jameskramer5614]

@@AlanFong very cool

[@robertmayes7629]

When is the fish fry? Great job. Just beautiful up there.

[@AlanFong]

Fun trip and when I get back my family come over for hand outs lol

[@garyrichardson6715]

That’s not fishing that’s watching

[@AlanFong]

Most people can't even see the bite lol You just hear the captain say hit the switch and fish on. It's acually fun fishing black cod, until you try it you won't know

[@user-wr3vt8uq4s]

Wow, that's a lot of work to get those cod. Well done.

[@AlanFong]

Yes, thanks but well worth catching excellent table fare

[@vjmotano835]

Bucket list!

[@AlanFong]

it's a fun trip and fishing a totally different way lol and very rewarding as the black cad is the best fish I've ever ate!

[@ryanbowes5243]

nice trip. any thoughts on what kind of bottom to fish? did you guys sound around till you found either bait or black cod on the bottom? last stupid question is did you guys try and anchor for them or just back troll into the current? I'm from BC and have been trying to figure how out how to fish for them. Thanks

[@AlanFong]

In Alaska were fishing in 1500-2000 ft down on muddy bottoms. Were drifting and just dragging our riggs. Were using a drop shot rig with a 4# torpedo weight with two circle hooks with bait. Electric reels are a must with 100# test! Best eating fish around!

[@ryanbowes5243]

great thanks for the tips@@AlanFong