Maine Seafood Guide – Hake

FMIB 50910 Silver Hake or New England Whiting
Silver Hake or New England Whiting (Merlucius bilinearis) Photo credit: Goode, George Brown (1884) Fisheries and Fishery Industries of the United States: Section I, Natural History of Useful Aquatic Animals, Plates, Washington, DC: Government Printing Office
Species Description
Season
Status
Regulatory Authority
Harvest Method
Recreational Harvest
Health Benefits & Risks
Buying & Preparing
Brands
Certifications
Links

►Species Description

Red hake Urophycis chuss
Silver hake (whiting) Merluccius bilinearis
White hake Urophycis tenuis

Wild.

All hake are deep-water, East Coast fish that migrate inshore in warmer months. Red and white hake are “true” hakes while silver hake (also called whiting) is part of a different family. Red hake resemble white hake but are smaller. Silver hake or whiting is a long slender fish without a chin barbel or long feeler fin.

►Season

Unlawful to harvest hake from December 1 through June 30.

►Status

Red hake and silver hake in the Gulf of Maine are not overfished nor is overfishing occurring.

The population of white hake in the Gulf of Maine is rebuilding and overfishing is not occurring.

►Regulatory Authority

New England Fishery Management Council Northeast Multispecies (groundfish) Plan.

►Harvest Method

Otter trawl, gillnet, some hook and line.

►Recreational Harvest

Minimum size: none
Bag limit: none
Season: unlawful to harvest hake from December 1st through June 30

►Health Benefits & Risks

Hake is lower in omega-3 fatty acids than other seafood choices. Hake is low in mercury.

►Buying & Preparing

Hake is a soft, flaky white fish with a more delicate texture than pollock or haddock. Look for fresh, local fish as red and white hake do not freeze well (they become “spongy” upon thawing).

►Companies, Brands, and Labels

Port Clyde Fresh Catch

►Certifications & Verifications

Gulf of Maine Responsibly Harvested (silver hake)

►Links