Pacific Whiting
Mercluccius productus
Also known as Pacific hake
Culinary Profile
Mild and slightly sweet.
Soft and less flaky than other whitefish such as cod and pollock.
Whiting is a good source of selenium, vitamin B, magnesium, and protein.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Pacific whiting is a round fish. They are silvery in color with black speckles on the back and black inside the mouth.
Biology
Pacific whiting grow fast, up to 3 feet in length, and can live to more than 15 years old. Relatively little is known about their spawning season and locations. They are known to spawn in large numbers from January through March off south-central California, and were traditionally thought to migrate seasonally. However, recent studies have also shown that they may spawn as far north as Canada.
Where They Live
Range Pacific whiting is found off the West Coast from Southern Baja California and the Gulf of California to the Gulf of Alaska. Habitat Pacific whiting school in midwater but have also been observed resting on the seafloor. They’re most common in water between 164 and 1,640 feet deep, but adults are found in water over 3,000 feet deep and 250 miles or more offshore.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Frozen whiting is available year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Washington, Oregon, and California.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
In 2023, commercial landings of Pacific whiting totaled 470 million pounds and were valued at $42 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Mid-water trawls are primarily used to catch Pacific whiting. Mid-water trawling has minimal impact on habitat and low incidental catch of other species. Fishermen follow a number of regulations to reduce potential bycatch in the fishery. Mesh on the narrow, back end (codend) of their nets must be at least 3 inches to prevent bycatch of small fish. Regulations restrict where fishermen may harvest Pacific whiting to reduce bycatch of Chinook salmon. Each sector’s catch is restricted by limits on bycatch of Chinook salmon and depleted rockfish species.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 65 Species
Where Pacific Whiting ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choline | 65 mg | 12 / 65 | 82% |
| Zinc | 0.88 mg | 22 / 111 | 80% |
| Phosphorus | 222 mg | 35 / 111 | 68% |
| Vitamin D | 1.4 IU | 36 / 54 | 33% |
| Vitamin B12 | 2.3 µg | 39 / 106 | 63% |
| Protein | 18.31 g | 61 / 111 | 45% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 93 mg | 62 / 104 | 40% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 131 mg | 66 / 104 | 37% |
| Iron | 0.34 mg | 85 / 111 | 23% |
| Selenium | 32.1 µg | 87 / 106 | 18% |
Other West Coast Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Pacific Whiting.
California Market Squid
Doryteuthis (Loligo) opalescens
Mild, and subtly sweet.
Lingcod
Ophiodon elongatus
A mild-tasting fish.
Northern Anchovy
Engraulis mordax
Canned or salted anchovies have a pronounced, salty tang, and fresh anchovies have a rich but subtle taste and a soft te…
Pacific Mackerel
Scomber japonicus
Rich with a pronounced flavor.
Pacific Sardine
Sardinops sagax caerulea
When fresh, small sardines have a delicate flavor. Larger sardines have a fuller, oilier flavor, similar to anchovies bu…
Widow Rockfish
Sebastes entomelas
Delicate, nutty flavor.
Similar by Flavour: Other Mild-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the mild flavour profile of Pacific Whiting, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
Alaska Pollock
Gadus chalcogrammus
Pollock has mild-tasting flesh and is similar to other white fish like cod or haddock.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much choline does Pacific Whiting contain?
A 100 g raw serving of Pacific Whiting supplies 65 mg of choline, around 12% of the 550 mg daily value — notable for prenatal and liver-health contexts.
How much selenium does Pacific Whiting provide?
A 100 g raw serving of Pacific Whiting carries 32.1 µg of selenium, about 58% of the 55 µg daily value for adults.
How big does Pacific Whiting get?
grow fast, up to 3 feet.
How should Pacific Whiting be cooked?
Pacific Whiting has Soft and less flaky than other whitefish such as cod and pollock. — suited to gentle methods that preserve moisture (poaching, sous-vide, low-heat roasting) as much as high-heat techniques (grilling, searing), depending on thickness of the cut.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught Pacific whiting is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
According to the 2024 stock assessment, the coastal stock of Pacific whiting is not overfished, and is not subject to overfishing based on 2023 catch data. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART .
Management
The coastal stock of Pacific whiting is managed through the bilateral Pacific Whiting Agreement between the United States and Canada. The agreement allocates a harvest quota to American and Canadian fisheries. The United States is allocated nearly 74 percent of the annual quota and Canada the remaining 26 percent.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 21 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.