South Pacific Hake
South Pacific hake — merluza común — is Chile's most culturally and commercially significant demersal fish. It has fed coastal communities from Coquimbo to Chiloé for generations and remains a staple on Chilean tables.
Stocks collapsed sharply after 2001, and the fishery is now under active recovery management, making it a species every angler and seafood consumer in Chile has a stake in understanding.
Scientific Name: Merluccius gayi
Also known as merluza común, merluza chilena
- Elongated, fusiform body with a silvery back fading to silvery-white on the belly — clean, unspotted coloration that makes it easy to identify.
- Concave caudal fin margin and a single dorsal spine followed by a long soft-rayed dorsal fin; oval cross-section distinguishes it from flatfish bycatch.
- Common fish run around 50 cm; the species can reach 87 cm, though fish that size are rare given current stock pressure.
- Closely resembles European hake — the same slender jaw, large mouth, and prominent lateral line that runs the full body length.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the Southeast Pacific, ranging along the Chilean coast from Arica south to the Chiloé Archipelago — a native species, not introduced.
- Lives on the continental shelf and upper slope, anywhere from about 50 m down to 500 m, depending on season and life stage.
- The main commercial and artisanal fishery runs between Coquimbo (Región IV) and Los Lagos (Región X), with the densest concentrations in central Chile.
- Not a freshwater fish — entirely marine, found over soft-bottom shelf habitat and sometimes suspended in midwater, especially at night.
Key Locations
- Coquimbo (Región IV) — northern anchor of the main artisanal and industrial fishing grounds; historically one of the most active landing ports.
- Valparaíso — sits at the heart of the primary spawning zone (32°–33°S); central to both the fishery and management efforts.
- Constitución to Talcahuano corridor — the second major spawning area (35°30'–37°S) and a key stretch for both industrial trawlers and artisanal longliners.
- Chiloé Island area (Región de Los Lagos) — southern limit of the main commercial range; hake concentrate here during summer southward migrations.
Specific Spots
- During summer, fish move south and shallower along the coast — artisanal boats working the shelf between Coquimbo and Chiloé find them in shallower reaches then.
- In winter, hake push north and drop into deeper water (200–500 m), where industrial midwater and bottom trawls target them.
- Spawning concentrations form off Valparaíso and in the stretch from Constitución to Talcahuano — these aggregations historically drew the heaviest fishing pressure.
- At night, fish rise off the bottom into midwater to feed, which is when they're most accessible to longlines and gillnets set at intermediate depths.
South Pacific Hake FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for South Pacific Hake?
Cut squid and cut fish (sardine, anchovy) are the go-to baits on longlines and handlines, fresh bait consistently outperforms frozen when available. Luminescent or white squid-profile jigs fished at depth work during nighttime feeding windows when hake are suspended in midwater.
When is the best time to fish for South Pacific Hake?
Summer (December–March): hake move south and shallower, making them more accessible to artisanal boats along the central and southern coast. Autumn (April–May): fish begin shifting north and deeper as water cools, a transitional period that can concentrate fish along shelf edges.
How do you catch South Pacific Hake?
Most hake fishing in Chile is done from boats, artisanal vessels use set longlines and anchored gillnets over the continental shelf, while industrial fleets run bottom and midwater trawls.
What do South Pacific Hake eat?
Euphausiids (krill-like crustaceans) make up the largest share of the diet, small, shrimp-shaped invertebrates that hake chase into midwater at night. Jigs or small soft-plastic shrimp imitations fished at depth can draw strikes.
Where do South Pacific Hake live?
Native to the Southeast Pacific, ranging along the Chilean coast from Arica south to the Chiloé Archipelago, a native species, not introduced. Lives on the continental shelf and upper slope, anywhere from about 50 m down to 500 m, depending on season and life stage.
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