Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)

Haddock on the Ledge: Haddock are present on Jeffreys Ledge year-round. Along with Cod, they were an economically important fish for years, and have been fished on the Ledge since the 1800's. because of the sweet taste of the fish, haddock were heavily over-exploited by the late 1970's. However, management actions were slow to reduce the takes of haddock until recently. Many fishermen are starting to report increasing catches of haddock in the past few years, indicating there is hope this fish will recover. Size: Haddock can reach lengths of up to four feet, and weights of up to 40 pounds. The haddock is an elongated fish which is usually dark grey above and whitish below; they often have a silvery appearance. Diet: Haddock take a wide variety of prey, depending on what is available. Smaller haddock will feed on crustaceans, mollusks, squid, and bottom-dwelling invertebrates, while larger fish generally feed on bait fish like herring or sand lance. Habitat: A bottom dweller (or "ground fish"), usually found over smooth bottom substrates like sand, gravel, or clay. Haddock prefer deeper areas than the closely related Atlantic Cod, and are typically found in 150 to 450 foot depths. Breeding occurs during winter, when a single spawning female can lay as many as 2,000,000 eggs. The eggs float at the surface, and hatch after about two weeks. The young larvae develop over the next several months, sometimes staying in association with jellyfish. They do not descend toward the lower part of the water column until the following autumn. Predators: Spiny dogfish (sand sharks) and other large fish like halibut are the primary predators of adult haddock; when younger and smaller, a number of other fish species (cod, pollack, silver hake) are all haddock predators. Range: From The Grand banks in Newfoundland to Cape Cod, with some found in deep water as far south as Cape Hatteras. Other Sites: Link #1    Link #2    Link #3