Red Hake
Urophycis chuss
Also known as Ling, Squirrel hake
Culinary Profile
Mild and slightly sweet. Hake can be substituted in many dishes calling for pollock or cod.
Hakes have softer flesh and are less flaky than other whitefish such as cod, haddock, and pollock.
Red hake is a good source of selenium, vitamin B, magnesium, and protein.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Red hake vary in color depending on their environment. Most tend to be a reddish brown to olive-brown color with pale tan spots on their sides and shades of white on their undersides. They are a member of the cod family and have a barbel (whisker) on their chin. Their dorsal fin is triangular, but their second dorsal and anal fins are long, continuous, and do not attach to the tail fin, much like an eel.
Biology
Red hake are a member of the cod family. They do not grow as large as white hake and normally reach a maximum size of 50 centimeters (20 inches) and 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds). Females are generally larger than males of the same age, and reach a maximum length of 63 centimeters (25 inches) and a weight of 3.6 kilograms (7.9 pounds).
Where They Live
Range Red hake are found in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean and range primarily from Newfoundland to North Carolina. They are most abundant from the western Gulf of Maine through Southern New England waters. Habitat The northern stock of red hake inhabits the waters of the Gulf of Maine and Northern Georges Bank, and the southern stock inhabits the waters of Southern Georges Bank and the Mid-Atlantic Bight.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Maine to North Carolina.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery: The 2024 landings of red hake totaled 500,000 pounds, and were valued at $230,000, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Red hake is part of the small-mesh multispecies management unit, along with silver hake and offshore hake. This three-species complex is sometimes marketed together as whiting. Red hake are usually a bycatch species in the small-mesh fisheries that target whiting ( silver hake ) and squid. Low value and limited domestic market for red hake result in high percentages of discard which account for about 60 percent of the annual catch. Red hake are frequently used as bait in the lobster and tuna fisheries. Some are also sold as fillets.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 111 Species
Where Red Hake ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc | 0.78 mg | 28 / 111 | 75% |
| Selenium | 36.5 µg | 32 / 106 | 70% |
| Protein | 18.99 g | 48 / 111 | 57% |
| Iron | 0.65 mg | 58 / 111 | 48% |
| Phosphorus | 198 mg | 70 / 111 | 37% |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.56 µg | 105 / 106 | 1% |
Other New England/Mid-Atlantic Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Red Hake.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Blacktip Shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
Sweet, meaty taste.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Atlantic Common Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
Mild flavor.
Atlantic Herring
Clupea harengus
Small fresh herring have a more delicate flavor, while larger herring have a fuller, oilier flavor.
Atlantic Mackerel
Scomber scombrus
Mackerel has a rich, pronounced flavor. For a milder flavor, cut out the outer bands of dark meat along the midline.
Atlantic Mahi Mahi
Coryphaena hippurus
Mahi mahi has a sweet, mild flavor. For a milder flavor, trim away darker portions of the meat.
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
Rhizoprionodon terraenovae
Reported to be quite tasty.
Atlantic Skipjack Tuna
Katsuwonus pelamis
Skipjack tuna has the most pronounced taste of all of the tropical tunas.
Atlantic Spiny Dogfish
Squalus acanthias
Mild and sweet.
Similar by Flavour: Other Mild-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the mild flavour profile of Red Hake, 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
Is Red Hake a lean fish or a rich one?
At 87 kcal per 100 g raw, Red Hake counts as lean on the fattiness spectrum — useful context when deciding cooking method (lean species suit poaching; rich species hold up to high-heat sear).
How much protein is in 100 g of Red Hake?
A 100 g raw serving of Red Hake provides 18.99 g of protein — roughly 38% of the FDA 50 g daily value.
How much Red Hake is caught commercially?
Commercial fishery: The 2024 landings of red hake totaled 500,000 pounds, and were valued at $230,000, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Red hake is part of the small-mesh multispecies management unit, along with silver hake and offshore hake. This three-species complex is sometimes marketed together as whiting.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught red hake is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
There are two stocks of red hake: Gulf of Maine/Northern Georges Bank and Southern Georges Bank/Mid Atlantic. According to the most recent stock assessments: The Gulf of Maine/Northern Georges Bank (northern) stock of red hake is not overfished and is not subject to overfishing (2017 stock assessment). Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART .
Population
The northern stock is not overfished. The southern stock is overfished, but the fishing rate established under a rebuilding plan promotes population growth.
Fishing Rate
The northern stock is not subject to overfishing. The southern stock is reduced to end overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Fishing gears used to harvest red hake have minimal impacts on habitat.
Bycatch
Raised-footrope trawls are required in designated areas when targeting hake to minimize bycatch of other species.
Management
NOAA Fisherie s and the New England Fishery Management Council manage the red hake fishery. Managed under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan for Small Mesh Multispecies : Permitting requirements. A cap on the amount of groundfish bycatch that fishing vessels can take.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 17 values
Energy
Macronutrients
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.