White Hake

White hake is a large member of the hake group found along the continental shelf and slope of the western North Atlantic. It closely resembles its smaller relative red hake but grows considerably larger and tends to occupy somewhat deeper, muddier bottom habitat. White hake range from Newfoundland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence south to the Mid-Atlantic Bight, with important concentrations in the Gulf of Maine. The species is an important component of the groundfish community on the continental shelf and has been the subject of long-term stock assessments due to historical population declines. White hake are identified largely by their overall grayish-brown coloration, elongated pelvic fin filaments, and typically larger adult size than other regional hakes.

White hake has the elongated, tapering hake body form, but grows notably larger than red hake.

• Grayish-brown to olive back, paler on the sides, whitish belly
• Two dorsal fins, the first short and triangular, the second long and low
• Long, thread-like pelvic fin filaments that can reach back to the anal fin
• Single chin barbel
• Slightly protruding lower jaw and large eyes

Adults commonly reach 50-90 cm and can exceed 1.3 meters, notably larger than red hake's typical maximum size. The longer pelvic filaments, larger size, and duller grayish tone help distinguish white hake from red hake, while its two separate dorsal fins distinguish it from the single-finned cusk.

White hake occupies the continental shelf and upper slope of the western North Atlantic from Newfoundland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence south to the Mid-Atlantic Bight, with a stronghold in the Gulf of Maine. Adults favor soft mud bottoms in relatively deep water, typically 100-300 meters, sometimes ranging to 500 meters or more, while juveniles often use shallower inshore nursery areas. The species prefers cooler continental shelf and slope waters and shows a seasonal pattern of moving to deeper water in warmer months and returning to shallower depths at other times of year. White hake habitat overlaps broadly with red hake but generally extends into somewhat deeper, muddier terrain.

White hake are bottom-associated predators that feed on fish, shrimp, and other invertebrates, generally foraging along soft sediment rather than rocky structure. They are most active at night and tend to rest partly buried or sheltered during daylight hours. Juveniles use shallow inshore habitats as nurseries before gradually moving into deeper offshore water as they mature, a migration pattern shared with red hake. Spawning takes place over the outer continental shelf, releasing pelagic eggs that drift with currents before larvae and small juveniles settle inshore. White hake populations have experienced significant historical declines linked to fishing pressure, and the species remains closely tracked in regional groundfish stock assessments.