CuskorRed Hake

Two fish anglers mix up. Here is what separates them, and what each one’s rules are in your state.

Studio photograph of a Cusk (Brosme brosme), side view, on a white background — **Cusk***Brosme brosme*

Illustration of a Red Hake (Urophycis chuss), side view, on a white background — **Red Hake***Urophycis chuss*Drawing: NOAA Fisheries

Rules for both fish from 3 state rulebooks, checked Sep 18, 2026. Every rule names its source and the day it was last checked; the official rulebook is the final word.

How to tell them apart

Cusk

Eel-tailed cod relative — one long dorsal and anal fin running into the rounded tail; leathery brown skin.

Red Hake

Soft-rayed codling with a ribbon-thin first-dorsal ray, a chin barbel, and slim reddish-brown body.

Red hake, next to cusk: separate dorsal fins, ribbon ray.

Side by side

	Cusk	Red Hake
Scientific name	Brosme brosme	Urophycis chuss
Also called	—	Ling, Squirrel hake
Waters	Offshore	Inshore
Heaviest state record	34 lb 4 oz · Massachusetts (1990)	12 lb 13 oz · New Jersey (2010)
On the table	Firm and sweet — an underrated chowder fish.	Soft but tasty fresh — a chowder fish.
Rules of its own in	2 states	2 states

Rules for

Every state, both fish

The two fish are regulated differently in 2 of 3 states with a rule for either. In Massachusetts, cusk is No size limit, No bag limit while red hake has no rule of its own there. Call the fish wrong and you keep a short one or throw back a legal one.

State	Cusk: size · bag · season	Red Hake: size · bag · season
Maine	No size limitNo bag limitOpen year-roundOpenME DMR 2026 · checked 2026-09-18	No size limitNo bag limitOpen year-roundOpenME DMR 2026 · checked 2026-09-18
Massachusetts	No size limitNo bag limitOpen year-roundOpenNOAA GARFO 2026 · likely · checked 2026-09-07	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.
North Carolina	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.	No size limitNo bag limitOpen year-roundOpenNC DMF 2026 · likely · checked 2026-09-18

Questions anglers ask

How do you tell cusk from red hake?

Cusk: Eel-tailed cod relative — one long dorsal and anal fin running into the rounded tail; leathery brown skin. Red Hake: Soft-rayed codling with a ribbon-thin first-dorsal ray, a chin barbel, and slim reddish-brown body. Red hake, next to cusk: separate dorsal fins, ribbon ray.

Which gets bigger, cusk or red hake?

Cusk. The heaviest state record we hold is 34 lb 4 oz in Massachusetts; the heaviest red hake record is 12 lb 13 oz in New Jersey.

Which is better to eat, cusk or red hake?

Cusk: Firm and sweet — an underrated chowder fish. Red Hake: Soft but tasty fresh — a chowder fish.

Do cusk and red hake have the same limits?

Not everywhere. They differ in 2 state rulebooks. Massachusetts: cusk No size limit, No bag limit, red hake no rule of its own; North Carolina: cusk no rule of its own, red hake No size limit, No bag limit.