[2] It is found in the north Pacific from northern Japan to the Okhotsk and Bering Seas, east to the Gulf of Alaska, and south to northern Baja California in Mexico.

It is found at depths between 140 and at least 4,250 m,[3] but typically between 700 and 1100 m.[1] The giant grenadier has the usual greatly elongated, pointed tail of the rattails.

Giant grenadiers are among the most abundant species from 400–1,000 m in the North Pacific Ocean.

[4] Giant grenadiers are apex predators on the upper continental slopes of the northern Pacific.

[4] Because of their great abundance, several attempts have been made to develop a fishery for giant grenadier.