Sablefish fishing out of Fort Bragg starts at Noyo Harbor, with a run on your own boat to the deep water off the Mendocino coast. Black cod is the same fish as sablefish, and it is not a true cod. This page covers the named structure off the port, who fishes black cod here, the buoy to read before you go, and where the rules sit. Region-wide coverage is in the wider Pacific Northwest guide.
Where boats run out of Noyo Harbor
Three named features frame a sablefish run from this port: Noyo Jetty, Noyo Canyon and Punta Gorda reef. The harbor, launch and regional picture are on the Fort Bragg port page.
Noyo Jetty
Noyo Jetty sits at the harbor entrance. Every run out of Noyo Harbor passes it, so it works as a reference point for the trip.
Noyo Canyon
Noyo Canyon lies straight out from Noyo Harbor. Canyon edges show up as tight spacing on depth contours, and the Chart Contours layer in Breakpoint draws them. The chart layers are not for navigation.
Punta Gorda reef
Punta Gorda reef lies north of Fort Bragg on the Lost Coast.
How black cod are fished out of Fort Bragg
The black cod fished out of Noyo comes from commercial boats. Methods for your own boat are general deep-water methods, covered on the linked pages.
The commercial fleet
F/V Animal Fair fishes black cod out of Noyo as a commercial boat. That is commercial fishing, and its methods are not a template for what you run on a private boat.
Methods for your own boat
Rigging and depth for sablefish are general to the species and not specific to this port. For sablefish fishing out of Fort Bragg on a private boat, start with our sablefish guide for biology, depth and rigging. Then read up on deep-drop gear and technique.
Reading conditions before the run
The nearest NOAA buoy gives you wind, wave height and period before you leave the jetty.
NDBC 46014
The station is NDBC station 46014, PT ARENA, listed by NOAA as 19 NM north of Point Arena (39.225N, 123.980W). Full readings are on the NDBC station 46014 page. The buoy sits south of Fort Bragg rather than off the port, so its readings reflect that position.
The numbers to check
Read these three values:
- Wind: speed and direction.
- Wave height: significant wave height, in feet.
- Dominant period: in seconds.
Then check the NWS Eureka marine forecast before the run.
FAQ: sablefish fishing out of Fort Bragg
Are black cod and sablefish the same fish?
Yes. Black cod is the common name for sablefish, and it is not a true cod.
Where is Noyo Canyon?
Noyo Canyon lies straight out from Noyo Harbor, past Noyo Jetty at the harbor entrance.
Who fishes black cod out of Noyo?
Commercial boats, including F/V Animal Fair. Sport methods come from general deep-water technique rather than from the commercial fleet.
When are sablefish around?
General timing for the species is covered on the sablefish page linked above.
Which buoy do I check before running out?
NDBC station 46014, PT ARENA, south of the port. Read wind, wave height and dominant period, then check the official forecast.
