Red Hake Identification Guide
Identify red hake by its two dorsal fins, thread-like pelvic filaments, chin barbel, and reddish-brown to olive coloring.
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Key identification features
- Slender, tapering body with two dorsal fins: a short, tall, triangular first dorsal fin followed by a long, low second dorsal fin
- First dorsal fin has an elongated first ray forming a filament-like tip
- Pelvic fins reduced to long, thread-like extensions reaching past the anal fin origin
- Single barbel on the chin
- Color ranges from reddish-brown to olive or purplish-gray on the back, fading to pale, silvery sides and belly
- Adults typically run 12-20 inches
Common look-alikes
- White hake: grows larger, has a paler grayish-white to brownish tone, and prefers deeper, colder water
- Silver hake (whiting): lacks a chin barbel entirely and has a more forked, streamlined tail
- Spotted hake: shows a mottled, blotchy pattern along the sides rather than red hake's more uniform reddish tone
Where you'll see one
Red hake live over soft mud and sand bottoms of the continental shelf in the western North Atlantic, from the Gulf of Maine to the Carolinas. Juveniles often shelter inside the mantle cavities of large sea scallops before moving to open bottom habitat as adults.
Frequently asked questions
How do I separate red hake from silver hake?
Check the chin - red hake has a single barbel there, while silver hake (whiting) has none and a more deeply forked tail.
What's the easiest way to confirm a hake is a red hake rather than white hake?
Color and size are the quickest cues: red hake shows a reddish-brown to olive tone and stays under about 20 inches, while white hake is paler and grows noticeably larger.