It is dark grey-green to brown, with spots on its sides and pale towards the belly.

[1][2] Its range spans the North Pacific, from the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk in the west to the northern Gulf of Alaska and Sitka, Alaska, in the east.

[1][2] It normally occurs in shallow coastal waters at less than 60 m depth but may also be found at depths up to 200 m. The saffron cod may also enter brackish and even fresh waters, occurring quite far up rivers and streams, but remaining within regions of tidal influence.

[1] Saffron cods begin to mature during their third year of life.

It is used for human consumption in the Russian Federation and Japan, fresh or frozen.