European hake
Merluccius merluccius
Also known as: HakeCornish SalmonMerluzaNasello
BenthicBoat
Score
—
Prime time
Year-round; low light for best feeding
Depth
50–400m
Platform
Boat
Season
JanMarJunSepDec
Peak Jul–Dec
Depth range
50–400mDeep
Best fishing techniques
Bottom fishing / ledgering60%
Preferred seabed
SandMud
Findr bio
Bottom by day, mid-water by night — I chase my food up through the water column. Fish the change of light and you'll catch me moving.
How to catch
Favourite hangouts
Deep waterOpen sea
Recommended baits
Fish baitsSquid
Diet
Small fishForage fishShrimpCephalopodsAnchovy
Effective techniques
Bottom FishingJigging
Gear
Best times
DawnDuskNight
I hug the seabed by day and rise through the water column after dark — a nightly commute few anglers ever witness.
Field notes
Where to find them
NE Atlantic/Mediterranean shelf edge and deep water
Where they hang out
Shelf and deep water, moderate to deep
Prime time
Year-round; low light for best feeding
Tide game
Low to moderate
What they're into
Fish and squid strips fished near bottom
Temperature vibe
Cold-to-temperate species, moves deeper when warm
Fave weather
Moderate seas workable
Fun fact about me
Night-shift hunter — I rise off the bottom once the light drops.
Dinner material?
8/10Solid dinner choice
Play by the rules
Quotas and size limits common — check EU/national rulesNational/EU fisheries agency
Looking after them
Least Concern