Red HakeorAtlantic Cod

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

Studio photograph of a Red Hake (Urophycis chuss), side view, on a white background — **Red Hake***Urophycis chuss*

Studio photograph of an Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua), side view, on a white background — **Atlantic Cod***Gadus morhua*

Rules for both fish from 10 state rulebooks, checked Oct 29, 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

Red Hake

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

Atlantic Cod

Blotchy brown-green with a PALE lateral line arching over the pectorals, a chin barbel, and a square tail.

Atlantic cod, next to red hake: square tail, heavier body, pale lateral line.

Side by side

	Red Hake	Atlantic Cod
Scientific name	Urophycis chuss	Gadus morhua
Also called	Ling, Squirrel hake	Codfish
Waters	Inshore	Offshore
Heaviest state record	12 lb 13 oz · New Jersey (2010)	98 lb 12 oz · New Hampshire (1969)
On the table	Soft but tasty fresh — a chowder fish.	The classic whitefish.
Rules of its own in	1 states	10 states

Rules for

Every state, both fish

The two fish are regulated differently in 10 of 10 states with a rule for either. In Maine, red hake is No size limit, No bag limit and Atlantic cod is 23" min, 1 per day. Call the fish wrong and you keep a short one or throw back a legal one.

State	Red Hake: size · bag · season	Atlantic Cod: size · bag · season
Connecticut	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.	No retention0Closed all yearPut it backCT DEEP 2026 · checked 2026-10-29
Delaware	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.	No retention0Closed all yearPut it backFederal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters)NOAA GARFO 2026 · checked 2026-10-28
Maine	No size limitNo bag limitOpen year-roundOpenME DMR 2026 · checked 2026-10-29	23" min1 per daySep 1 - Oct 31OpenME DMR 2026 · checked 2026-10-29
Maryland	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.	No retention0Closed all yearPut it backFederal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters)NOAA GARFO 2026 · checked 2026-10-28
Massachusetts	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.	23 in min (Gulf of Maine)North of Cape Cod: 1 · south of Cape Cod: noneNorth: Sep 1–Oct 31 · south of Cape Cod: closedCheckNOAA GARFO 2026 / MA DMF 2026 · checked 2026-10-12
New Hampshire	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.	23 in TL min1 fish/dayOpen Sep 1 - Oct 31 (closed Nov 1 - Aug 31)OpenNH F&G 2026 · checked 2026-10-12
New Jersey	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.	23 in min5Jan 1 - May 31 and Sep 1 - Dec 31OpenNJ DEP 2026 · checked 2026-10-12
New York	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.	23"5Sept 1 - May 31OpenNY DEC 2026 · checked 2026-10-29
Rhode Island	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.	N/ANo harvest or possessionClosed year-roundPut it backRI DEM 2026 · checked 2026-10-12
Virginia	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.	No retention0Closed all yearPut it backFederal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters)NOAA GARFO 2026 · checked 2026-10-28

Questions anglers ask

How do you tell red hake from Atlantic cod?

Red Hake: Soft-rayed codling with a ribbon-thin first-dorsal ray, a chin barbel, and slim reddish-brown body. Atlantic Cod: Blotchy brown-green with a PALE lateral line arching over the pectorals, a chin barbel, and a square tail. Atlantic cod, next to red hake: square tail, heavier body, pale lateral line.

Which gets bigger, red hake or Atlantic cod?

Atlantic Cod. The heaviest state record we hold is 98 lb 12 oz in New Hampshire; the heaviest red hake record is 12 lb 13 oz in New Jersey.

Which is better to eat, red hake or Atlantic cod?

Red Hake: Soft but tasty fresh — a chowder fish. Atlantic Cod: The classic whitefish.

Do red hake and Atlantic cod have the same limits?

Not everywhere. They differ in 10 state rulebooks. Maine: red hake No size limit, No bag limit, Atlantic cod 23" min, 1 per day; Connecticut: red hake no rule of its own, Atlantic cod No retention, 0; Delaware: red hake no rule of its own, Atlantic cod No retention, 0; Maryland: red hake no rule of its own, Atlantic cod No retention, 0; Massachusetts: red hake no rule of its own, Atlantic cod 23 in min (Gulf of Maine), North of Cape Cod: 1 · south of Cape Cod: none; and more in the table on this page.