This page covers sablefish, the fish most West Coast anglers call black cod, as it relates to Westport on Washington’s Pacific coast. Port-specific evidence is thin. The one charter with a documented deep-water schedule here names lingcod rather than black cod, and no sablefish ground, season or method is documented for the port. Below is what is and is not documented, followed by general information about the species. For the whole coast, see the Pacific Northwest fishing guide.
When sablefish are around Westport
No sablefish season for Westport is documented. The only window that turned up covers guided trips of every kind, typically from March through mid-October. That window applies to all species, so it is not a sablefish season. Deep-water charter trips here run in two windows, one in June and one in September. Check the state page for current openers.
Where boats run
No sablefish ground is confirmed at Westport. The deep-water trips run by one charter fall in the June and September windows above, but that charter’s page names lingcod, not black cod. Another Westport operator describes halibut trips to depths up to 700 feet and about 35 miles offshore. That is halibut water rather than sablefish evidence, but it shows how far offshore the deep ground lies. Check conditions yourself, and plan the return before you leave the dock.
How sablefish are fished out of Westport
No Westport method for sablefish is documented. The general approach is to deep-drop a weighted, multi-hook bottom rig to slope structure on an electric reel and retrieve slowly, since hand-cranking from slope depths is slow work and sablefish have soft mouths. Use fresh, oily squid, mackerel or herring cut to hold on the hook, because sablefish feed by scent. Look for slope breaks and canyon walls, where hard bottom meets soft mud or clay, and drift across that transition rather than along a featureless line.
Who fishes it
Tequila Too, a deep-sea charter based at Westport, runs deep-water trips in June and September. It is the only charter here with a documented deep-water schedule, and its own page names lingcod rather than black cod, so ask the operator whether black cod is on those trips. No sablefish tournament is documented for the port.
Faq
Has black cod been caught out of Westport?
One fish report from a Westport charter carries a 31-pound black cod title, but its text does not name the species. Treat it as a lead rather than proof.
Is there a black cod season at Westport?
No. The only documented window covers all guided species, and sablefish openers are set by the state. Check the state page before you plan a trip.
How deep is the water off Westport?
The deepest figure documented here is for halibut trips, up to 700 feet about 35 miles offshore. No sablefish depth is documented at Westport, and the species generally holds on the slope beyond the shelf break.
