Yes. “Whiting” is a common name for several different fish, not one species. What kind of fish it means depends on where the name is used: Pacific whiting is a West Coast hake, U.S. Atlantic “whiting” usually refers to hake, English whiting is another species, and Indo-Pacific whiting can refer to fish in the genus Sillago.
What kind of fish is whiting?
There is no single worldwide species called whiting. Common fish names vary by region, so the word on a menu or package may not be enough to identify the fish. NOAA explains that local fish names can differ geographically in its fish names guidance.
The main distinctions are geographic and scientific:
| Name in use | Scientific identification | Where or how the name is used |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific whiting, or Pacific hake | Merluccius productus | U.S. and Canadian West Coast. NOAA identifies Pacific whiting as a ray-finned fish found off this coast. The FDA Seafood List also uses Pacific Whiting as a common name for this species. |
| Whiting, Atlantic hake, or New England hake | Silver hake, Merluccius bilinearis; the market name may also include offshore hake | New England and the Mid-Atlantic. NOAA says silver hake and offshore hake have little to no separation in the market and are generally sold as “whiting.” |
| English whiting | Merlangius merlangus | A distinct species identified as English whiting by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. |
| Indo-Pacific or smelt whiting | Multiple species in the genus Sillago | Indo-Pacific naming includes sillaginid fishes catalogued by FAO as Sillago, smelt, or Indo-Pacific whiting. |
These names do not mean that all whiting are closely related or interchangeable. The different scientific names identify distinct fish, and the word “whiting” alone does not establish a universal family, flavor, or product type.
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These details apply specifically to Pacific whiting (Merluccius productus), not to every fish sold as whiting. NOAA describes it as a silvery, round-bodied fish with black speckles on its back and a black interior of the mouth. Its range extends from southern Baja California and the Gulf of California to the Gulf of Alaska.
NOAA reports that Pacific whiting can reach up to 3 feet in length, weighs approximately 1.4 pounds, and may live around 15 years. These are descriptive figures on NOAA’s species page, not figures to apply to other whiting species. NOAA describes its taste as mild and slightly sweet, with a soft texture that is less flaky than cod or pollock.
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How can you tell which whiting a package or menu means?
Look for the region, a fuller common name, or the scientific name. “Pacific whiting” is more specific than “whiting”; an Atlantic label may still cover silver hake and offshore hake under the same market name. If a product label gives only “whiting,” the name by itself may not resolve the species.
- For a precise species identity, check for the Latin scientific name.
- For Pacific whiting, look for Merluccius productus or “Pacific hake.”
- For English whiting, look for Merlangius merlangus.
- For Atlantic market whiting, ask the seller whether it is silver hake or offshore hake; NOAA notes these are generally sold under one name.
NOAA lists frozen Pacific whiting as available year-round. That describes the product category, not stock at any particular retailer.
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