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Southern Hake

Southern Hake

Merluza austral is the backbone of artisanal fishing in Chilean Patagonia, particularly in the Aysén and Magallanes regions.

Caught commercially by longline and trawl south of 41°S, it's a deep-water demersal species that rarely sees a sport rod — but understanding it matters because it shapes the coastal economy and food culture of southern Chile.

Scientific Name: Merluccius australis

Also known as Merluza austral, Merluza del sur

Physical Characteristics:
  • Slender body with a short head — roughly a quarter of total length — and a protruding lower jaw with visible teeth; steel-grey back tinged with blue, paler sides, silvery-white belly, dark fins.
  • Small scales, long thin pectoral fins, and a truncate tail in adults; juveniles may show a slightly forked tail margin.
  • Commonly measured between 60 and 100 cm; maximum recorded length is 160 cm, though large fish are increasingly rare due to fishing pressure.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Native to the southeastern Pacific along the Chilean coast south of roughly 40°S, occupying the Los Lagos, Aysén, and Magallanes regions.
  • A demersal species that lives and feeds near the seafloor in deep offshore and outer-sea waters; historically concentrated in the Outer Sea off northern Chilean Patagonia.
  • The Chilean-Argentinian population is considered a single stock that ranges across the southern tip of South America; the main portion of that stock sits in Chilean waters.

Key Locations

  • Puerto Gala and Puerto Gaviota (Aysén) — the main artisanal landing communities for merluza austral on the northern Patagonian coast.
  • Aysén Region (XI) and Magallanes Region (XII) — the core of the Chilean distribution, where both artisanal and industrial fleets operate south of 41°S.
  • Outer Sea channels off northern Chilean Patagonia — historically the primary aggregation zone for the species.

Specific Spots

  • Outer sea channels and deep fjords off Aysén — particularly around Puerto Gala and Puerto Gaviota — where the species aggregates in bottom and mid-water zones.
  • Deeper water column over soft or mixed bottom south of 41°S, where artisanal longliners set gear along the seafloor.

Southern Hake FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Southern Hake?

Commercial and artisanal fishers use fish or squid bait on longlines; no established recreational lure fishery exists for this species in Chile.

When is the best time to fish for Southern Hake?

Commercial fishing operates year-round under quota management, with seasonal variation in catch rates tied to oceanographic shifts in the outer Patagonian channels.

How do you catch Southern Hake?

In Chile, merluza austral is targeted almost exclusively by commercial and artisanal fishers using set longlines and trawls in deep water south of 41°S. Artisanal boats out of Aysén communities work the outer channels and fjords; industrial vessels operate across the broader Aysén and Magallanes zones.

What do Southern Hake eat?

Feeds on smaller fish and invertebrates in the water column and near the bottom; this predatory behavior is why longlines baited with fish or squid are the standard artisanal method in southern Chile.

Where do Southern Hake live?

Native to the southeastern Pacific along the Chilean coast south of roughly 40°S, occupying the Los Lagos, Aysén, and Magallanes regions. A demersal species that lives and feeds near the seafloor in deep offshore and outer-sea waters; historically concentrated in the Outer Sea off northern Chilean Patagonia.

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