Saltwater · Winter best on party boats; December to April over deep mud bottom

Red Hake

Urophycis chuss

A soft-fleshed cod relative of deep mud bottom, called 'ling' locally — a local name only, and NOT the Pacific lingcod, which is an unrelated greenling. Winter party boats from New England ports prize it, and it feeds mostly at night.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Red Hake — Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0 — Wikimedia Commons

Identifying features

Slender reddish-brown body fading to a pale, silvery-white belly
Pale chin barbel — much lighter than the body
Very long second dorsal fin and anal fin, both running most of the body's length toward the tail
Pelvic fins split into long, feeler-like filaments that reach past the vent
First dorsal fin with one elongated, thread-like ray

Habits

Largely nocturnal — hides by day in soft bottom, empty shells and scallop beds, feeds at night
Feeds on shrimp, small fish, crabs and squid picked from mud and sand
Moves into deeper water in summer and shallower (still deep) water in winter
Juveniles shelter inside live sea scallop shells on the bottom
Often caught alongside cod, haddock and pollock on winter groundfish trips

Distribution

Portland, ME · Maine★ Primary

Boston, MA · New England★ Primary

New York, NY · New YorkCommon

Where to find them

Gulf of Maine mud basins on winter party-boat trips
Deep holes south and east of New England ports in winter
New York Bight deep-water bottom on cold-season party boats

Where they live

Soft mud and sand bottom in 100-300 ft (30-90 m)Deep holes and basins of the Gulf of MaineOffshore wrecks and the edges of ledges in winter

How to catch them

Deep-water bottom rigs on winter party boats Boat

Rig: High-low bottom rig with 3/0-5/0 hooks, clam or squid, and 8-16 oz of lead for 100-300 ft (30-90 m)

Bait/lure: Clam pieces or squid strips

Key tip: Keep the bait hard on the mud — red hake hug soft bottom and bite softly, so watch for a gentle nod rather than a slam.

Night fishing over soft mud Boat

Rig: Standard two-hook bottom rig fished at anchor over mud in 100-300 ft (30-90 m) after dark

Bait/lure: Shrimp, clam or cut fish

Key tip: Fishing improves after sunset when hake leave their daytime shelter — fish patiently and rebait often.

Best baits & lures

Fresh clam piecesSquid stripsShrimp or cut fish strips

Techniques for Red Hake →

Baseline setup

Rod: Medium-heavy 6.5-7.5 ft boat rod
Line: 30-50 lb braid with a mono leader
Terminal: High-low rigs, 3/0-5/0 hooks, 8-16 oz sinkers

Recommended gear for this species

Rod · Best value

9' 5-weight fly rod outfit

≈ US$180-260

Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.

Flies · Budget

Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)

≈ US$25-40

Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.

Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.

Typical size

Common 12-20 in (30-51 cm), 1-3 lb (0.5-1.4 kg); large fish to about 27 in (69 cm) and 8 lb (3.6 kg)

On the table

Good — soft, white, mild flesh like a tender cod; best eaten fresh as it softens quickly.

Similar species

CuskCusk has a single long dorsal fin edged in black with a white margin and no separate long anal base; red hake has two dorsal fins, an equally long anal fin and thread-like pelvic filaments

Atlantic CodAtlantic cod has three separate dorsal fins, a stout body and a dark chin barbel; red hake is slimmer and redder with two dorsals, a pale barbel and feeler-like pelvic fins

Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →

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