Silver Hake Identification Guide
How to recognize silver hake by its iridescent silvery sides, sharp teeth, and barbel-less chin.
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Key identification features
- Slender, laterally compressed body with a bright, iridescent silvery sheen
- Large eyes and a big mouth lined with sharp teeth
- No chin barbel
- Two dorsal fins, the second long and gently notched
- Long anal fin roughly mirroring the second dorsal fin
- Deeply forked tail and a pointed snout; usually 30-60 cm long
Common look-alikes
- European hake: essentially a mirror-image species restricted to the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, so location distinguishes the two
- Red hake: shows a reddish tint and a long, thread-like extension on the first pelvic fin ray that silver hake lacks
- Atlantic cod: much stockier with a chin barbel, unlike silver hake's slim, barbel-less build
Where you'll see one
Silver hake is common on the continental shelf of the northwest Atlantic from Newfoundland to the southeastern United States, schooling at depths that shift daily - deeper by day, rising toward the surface at night to feed on smaller fish and squid, with seasonal movements tracking bottom temperature.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell silver hake from red hake?
Red hake has an elongated, filament-like first pelvic fin ray and a warmer reddish color, features silver hake does not share.
What's the quickest way to rule out cod when I see a silvery, toothy fish?
Check the chin - hake species, including silver hake, never have a barbel, while cod always does.