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How to catch White hake

Urophycis tenuis (Mitchill, 1814)

About White hake fishing

The white hake is a deep-water marine fish belonging to the family Phycidae, characterised by an elongated fusiform body, a straight forehead, and distinct jugular pelvic fins. Growing up to a maximum length of 133 cm and a weight exceeding 20 kg, this demersal species inhabits soft muddy bottoms of the continental shelf and upper slope, typically ranging from deep offshore waters down to 1000 metres. It is an active carnivorous predator that feeds primarily on small crustaceans, squids, and small fish. Exhibiting seasonal movements, mature fish migrate into shallower coastal and inshore waters during the summer months before returning to deeper zones as winter approaches. As a valuable commercial and sporting fish, it forms schooling groups across its northwest Atlantic native distribution.

  • Difficulty

    Medium

  • Average size

    70 cm TL

  • Market value

    Low

  • Habitat

    Saltwater

  • Season

    Spring, Summer, Autumn

  • Also known as

    Black hake, Boston hake, Hake, Ling, Mud hake

White hake

Reduced Pelvic Fins

Long filamentous pelvic fins hanging under the throat distinguish hakes.

Truncate Caudal Fin

Nearly straight vertical edge on tail fin helps identify the species.

Terminal Mouth

Subterminal to terminal mouth position with barbels aids identification.

White hake fishing facts

Characteristics

  • Typical size

    70 cm TL (max 133 cm TL )

  • Typical weight

    2.5 kg (max 21 kg )

  • Preferred temperature

    1.2–7.8 °C

  • Depth

    100–1,000 m

  • Longevity

    23 years

  • Body shape

    Fusiform / Normal

  • Commercial?

  • Vulnerability score

    71.8

Best hours

  • Dawn

    First light

    Active

  • Morning

    After sunrise

    Low

  • Midday

    High sun

    Low

  • Afternoon

    Late day

    Low

  • Dusk

    Last light

    Active

  • Night

    After dark

    Peak

When to fish for White hake

01
January
02
February
03
March
04
April
05
May
06
June
07
July
08
August
09
September
10 Now
October
11
November
12
December

How to catch White hake

Tips for catching White hake

Targeting white hake requires heavy bottom fishing gear equipped with robust sinkers and strong leaders to reach the deep soft substrates where these fish reside. Presenting large chunks of oily fish or cephalopods close to the seabed proves exceptionally effective, as their predatory instincts drive them to hunt by scent along the muddy floor. Late spring and summer periods often bring mature fish closer inshore or to shallower shelf structures, offering boat anglers prime opportunities when fishing deep drifts during low light conditions.

Other names for White hake

Local and alternate names anglers use for White hake.

  • White hake
  • Mud hake
  • Ling
  • Hake
  • Boston hake
  • Black hake

Best equipment to catch White hake

Compare fishing methods for White hake — sized kit for each technique.

Note: Typical fish is 2.5 kg Our algorithm will suggest the best equipment for you based on this weight.

Best lures and baits for White hake

Ranked lures and natural baits from every method, best first.

How White hake migrates — Oceanodromous

Migrates within the sea between spawning, nursery and feeding grounds, and never enters fresh water. Follow its seasonal shifts along the coast and offshore.

How White hake migrates — Oceanodromous 1. Eggs: Laid on the spawning grounds. 2. Larvae: Drift with the currents to the nursery grounds. 3. Juveniles: Grow up in sheltered nursery waters. 4. Adults: Range widely over the feeding grounds. 5. Spawners: Return to the spawning grounds each season.
Spawning grounds Nursery grounds Feeding grounds

1 Eggs

Spawning grounds

Laid on the spawning grounds.

2 Larvae

→ Nursery grounds

Drift with the currents to the nursery grounds.

3 Juveniles

Nursery grounds

Grow up in sheltered nursery waters.

4 Adults

Feeding grounds

Range widely over the feeding grounds.

5 Spawners

→ Spawning grounds

Return to the spawning grounds each season.

It stays in the sea and never runs up into fresh water.

Hover or tap a number to read each stage.

Diet and behavior of White hake

  • Diet

    Top predator

  • Feeds by

    Mixed feeder

  • Hunts

    Night

  • Feeds over

    Soft bottom

  • Social

    Schooling · Shoaling

  • Main prey

    Baitfish

Prey and predators of White hake

Prey is what White hake eats. Predators are the animals that eat it.

That is how it feeds, and how it is hunted.

Prey

What it eats

Predators

What hunts it

Where White hake lives

Lives on or just above the bottom. Work jigs, bait, and lures along the seabed.

Habitats
Saltwater
Depth zone
Sublittoral, Bathyal
100–1,000 m
Usually 100–247 m
Water column
Demersal
On or near the bed

Where this species lives

Where to fish for White hake

Mapped fishing spots where White hake is recorded — open a pin for access and methods.

Canal de Olhão

FaroFaroPortugal