Silver Hake

Silver hake are widely distributed and are found throughout the Northwest Atlantic Ocean from Newfoundland to South Carolina. Two stocks have been identified in the United States – a northern stock inhabiting the waters of the Gulf of Maine and Northern Georges Bank and a southern stock inhabiting the waters of Southern Georges Bank and the Mid-Atlantic Bight. Silver hake are nocturnal predators and spend their days resting on sandy, muddy, and pebbly ocean floors. From dusk to midnight, they will move up in the water column to feed.

Silver hake have been observed at temperatures ranging from 36-63° F (2-17° C) and are commonly found between 45-50° F (7-10° C). They are found at depths ranging from 36-1,640 feet (11-500 meters) with older, larger whiting preferring deeper waters. The fish will migrate in response to seasonal changes in water temperatures, moving into shallow, warmer waters in the spring where they will spawn in the late spring and early summer months. During the summer, portions of both the northern and southern stocks can be found on Georges Bank. As the water temperature cools in the autumn months, whiting will move offshore into deeper waters. During winter, fish in the northern stock will move to deep basins in the Gulf of Maine while the southern stock will move to the outer continental shelf and slope waters. 

The spatial distribution of silver hake is highly correlated with the position of the Gulf Stream. Changes in distribution are in response to changes in temperature on the continental shelf, which responds to circulation of the North/South paths of the Gulf Stream. Silver hake shift geographically to remain within their preferred temperature range, and the alteration in global climate is showing a population shift northwards