Quality sablefish is easy to recognize. Fresh sablefish never smells fishy; it smells fresh like the ocean. The eyes should appear bright and clear, almost alive. The gills should be clean, and the skin moist and with tightly adhering scales. Fresh sablefish flesh will give slightly when you press it with a finger, then spring back into shape. When choosing sablefish steaks or fillets, whether they’re fresh or previously frozen, look for moist, translucent (never dried out) flesh.