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Hake fishing is technical but exciting, often rich in catches when baits are well chosen and delicate fishing at depth well mastered. Hake appreciate solid natural baits that reproduce their diet (cephalopods, fish, crustaceans), and their rigorous presentation with specific rigs to avoid bait loss or entanglement clearly increases the chances of success. This type of fishing also allows you to catch other demersal species such as paddlefish, gilthead bream and capon, thus enriching the fishing experience.
Natural baits effective on hake
A variety of baits can be used to search for hake:
- Calamari strips: cut into leaf-like shapes to ripple in the current, they mimic hake's natural prey, particularly the highly prized cephalopods.
- Bibis and large worms (arenicoles, rags, etc.): these fleshy worms give off attractive scents and hold well on the hook, perfect for deep fishing where small fish can quickly devour more fragile baits.
- Pieces of fish: sardines, mackerel, horse mackerel and whiting, which are the hake's natural diet.
- Tentacles and pieces of cephalopods: octopus, squid, cuttlefish, whole or in strips, these baits are highly resistant and very attractive.
- Crustaceans such as crabs and shrimps can also be used, but are less common for hake.
Techniques and practical advice
It's best to use an octopus rig or a rig with several short sturdy fluorocarbon stacks (50/100) to limit tangling and ensure good rotation in the current.
Baits should also be well fixed, often tied, so that they stay on the bottom for a long time despite currents and attacks by small fish.
Vertical fishing with heavy lures (jigs, madaï-jigs, inchikus) boosted with bait (e.g. a strip of squid on the assist hook) is very productive. These lures imitate cephalopods and vibrate the water to attract hake.
Look for hake at depths of between 70 and 350 meters, often on sandy-muddy or sedimentary bottoms, where they hunt crustaceans, mollusks and small fish.
It's best to go out at night or at dusk, as hake return to the open water at night to feed.
Recommended equipment
A sturdy rod and reel with good line capacity are needed, as fishing is often deep and the fish can be powerful. Round, paddle-shaped hooks adapted to the size of the bait are preferred. Leaders should be made of strong fluorocarbon to limit cuts.
Hake fishing is technical but exciting, often rich in catches when baits are well chosen and delicate fishing at depth well mastered. Hake appreciate solid natural baits that reproduce their diet (cephalopods, fish, crustaceans), and their rigorous presentation with specific rigs to avoid bait loss or entanglement clearly increases the chances of success. This type of fishing also allows you to catch other demersal species such as paddlefish, gilthead bream and capon, thus enriching the fishing experience.
