White Hake
White Hake
Urophycis tenuis
Also Known As
Mud hake, Boston hake
Quick Facts
Region
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Brian Gay of Millsboro, Delaware holding the record-setting white hake he caught in 2019. Credit: Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Brian Gay of Millsboro, Delaware holding the record-setting white hake he caught in 2019. Credit: Maryland Department of Natural Resources
About the Species
White hake, also known as mud hake, are a species of groundfish that live in the deeper northwestern parts of the Atlantic Ocean. They are often compared to Atlantic cod and haddock in their physical appearance and taste.
Population
Significantly below target population level. A rebuilding plan is in place.
Fishing Rate
At recommended level.
Habitat Impacts
Area closures and gear restrictions protect habitats that are affected by some kinds of trawl gear.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Population Status
- According to the 2019 stock assessment, white hake is overfished but not subject to overfishing. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART.
Appearance
- White hake have a large mouth that extends back below their eyes.
- White hake have one anal fin and two dorsal fins. The first dorsal fin is tall and triangular, and the second is lower, rounded, and extends almost to the fish’s tail.
- The third fin ray on the first (triangular) dorsal fin is elongated and extends much higher than the rest of the fin.
- White hake are a member of the cod order and have a barbel (whisker) on their chin.
- White hake vary in color; most adults range from purplish-brown to golden-brown on their back and sides, and they have a yellowish-white belly speckled with small black spots.
Biology
- White hake can grow up to 53 inches and weigh up to 49 pounds.
- White hake eggs are buoyant, and larval and early juvenile fish live higher in the water column than adult fish.
- White hake settle to the bottom when they are about 2 months old.
- Adult white hake typically prefer deeper water than juveniles.
- White hake move inshore to shallower waters in the summer and move offshore to deeper waters during the winter.
- Male white hake are usually smaller than females.
- Adult white hake primarily prey on other bottom-dwelling organisms, such as squid, crustaceans, and small bony fish.
Where They Live
- White hake are found in the northwest Atlantic Ocean from Newfoundland to southern New England.
Fishery Management
- NOAA Fisheries and the New England Fishery Management Council manage the white hake fishery.
- White hake is managed as a single stock in U.S. waters.
- White hake, along with other groundfish in New England waters, is managed under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan, which includes:
- Permitting requirements for commercial vessels.
- Separate management measures for recreational vessels.
- Time/area closures to protect spawning fish and habitat.
- Annual catch limits based on best available science.
- According to the 2019 stock assessment, white hake is overfished. A rebuilding plan is in place until the stock rebuilds to the target population level.
- An optional sector (catch share) program can be used for white hake and other groundfish species. The sector program allows fishermen to form harvesting cooperatives and work together to decide when, where, and how they harvest fish.
Harvest
- Commercial fishery:
- In 2020, commercial landings of white hake totaled 4.2 million pounds and were valued at over $3.8 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database.
- Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch:
- White hake are commonly harvested using trawl nets, gillnets, bottom longlines, and rod and reel.
- Gillnets, longlines, and rod and reel used to harvest white hake have little to no impact on habitat.
- Closed areas and gear restrictions reduce habitat impacts from trawl nets.
- Fishermen follow management measures designed to reduce interactions with marine mammals, including gear modifications, seasonsal closures, and use of marine mammal deterrents.
- Recreational fishery:
- White hake are encountered by recreational fishermen fishing with hook-and-line. Fishing occurs year round.
- There is no minimum fish size limit for white hake, and the recreational bag limit is unlimited.
