(hakes), a genus of fishes of the family Gadidae. Body length, 30–50 cm (occasionally up to 1.2 m). The lower jaw is longer than the upper. There are several species of hakes, found in temperate and subtropical waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. They reach sexual maturity after three or four years. In most species spawning continues throughout the summer months. The eggs are pelagic. Hakes feed primarily on fish, including their own young, and make seasonal migrations. They are commercially valuable; the annual world catch of hakes is more than 1 million tons.