Hake
Here's another one you may not have heard of before. But it's a legitimate Gulf fish, caught frequently enough that I've encountered it fairly often on the menus of restaurants that put some work into finding fish. Indeed, I've run into it three or four times in the last few months, so perhaps its popularity is increasing.
The hake is a funny-looking fish. It has a tail the comes to a point, with a continuous fin along its back and underside. It looks like a standard fish in front and an eel in the back. It turns up in shrimp season, when it's found as a by-catch in shrimp nets.
Hake is distantly related to cod. Like that fish, its flesh is white and flaky, and lends itself very well to the fish dishes we like to cook and order in restaurants. I'd say it comes out best sauteed; it's a little too soft for the grill, although some chefs prepare it that way.
It's a good fish. Try it if it's offered as a fish special.
