Saltwater
European Hake
Merluccius merluccius
Hebrew name: חק אירופי
- Peak season
- Year-round (best Spring and Summer)
- Length range
- 30–100 cm
- Weight range
- 0.5–8 kg
- Typical depth
- 20–300 m
Minimum size: 16 cm
Measured from the tip of the mouth to the tip of the tail, fish lying flat. Release anything shorter at once.
- Per Fisheries Regulations, 1937, First Addendum, January 7, 2025
Habitat
Sandy and muddy bottoms at 30-300 m depth. Migrates vertically, deeper during the day and shallower at night.
Behavior
Voracious nocturnal predator that feeds on sardines, anchovies, and squid. Rises in the water column at night to hunt.
Best techniques
- Deep boat fishing with squid bait
- Bottom fishing with cut fish
- Paternoster rig with mackerel strip
- Vertical jigging over mud banks
