Which Cod is a True Cod and which is not a Cod at all?

The other day, I was answering a question for a customer about the differences between the types of cod and I thought it was some good info to share. 

 

Lingcod is not a true cod, it actually got it's name because the fish itself resembles cod and ling fish.

 

Lingcod is just as versatile as Pacific Cod, but it's a little higher in fat and therefore I find it to be a bit more flavorful. Lingcod cooks like Cod and can be used in the same recipes.

 

Black Cod is also a misleading name as it's not a cod at all. All the fishermen I have ever known have called it Black Cod, but it is required to be labeled as Sablefish when it's sold.

 

Black Cod is also called Butterfish sometimes and I can see why- the texture is so silky and buttery due to the extremely high fat content. While Cod is a general white fish that works in a wide variety of recipes, Black Cod is a gourmet fish that is best with specialized recipes meant to showcase its rich flavor and texture (and it tends to cook longer and hotter than actual cod).