Melanogrammus aeglefinus , also known as Scrod. Haddock are found on both sides of the North Atlantic. In the western North Atlantic, they’re found from Newfoundland to Cape May, New Jersey, and are most abundant on Georges Bank
Source: Species facts, status language, and imagery adapted from the NOAA Fisheries species profile (last updated 06/25/2026). Ocean City charter and Maryland
record notes are editorial orientation for OCEANCITY.MD readers. Always confirm current seasons, sizes, and
bag limits before you fish—rules change.
Haddock are found on both sides of the North Atlantic. In the western North Atlantic, they’re found from Newfoundland to Cape May, New Jersey, and are most abundant on Georges Bank and in the Gulf of Maine.
Maryland record catch
Confirm whether Maryland DNR publishes an Atlantic state-record category for Haddock on the current sport-fish record board.
Maryland’s Atlantic recreational seasons/sizes/creel summary does not publish a dedicated line for Haddock. Verify COMAR, DNR public notices, and federal rules for your exact waters before you keep fish.
Rule
Maryland / applicable detail
Maryland minimum size
Not listed — no dedicated Haddock line on the MD Atlantic recreational table
Maryland daily creel (bag)
Not listed — no MD species-specific bag for Haddock
Maryland open season
Not listed on the MD Atlantic Ocean / Coastal Bays summary table
Verify
Check DNR eRegulations, COMAR, and NOAA for your date and coordinates before you keep fish.
Haddock are a member of the cod family, but they are smaller than Atlantic cod.
They can be distinguished by a black “thumbprint” found on each side of their body.
Their skin is also less mottled than cod.
Biology Haddock are a fast-growing species that typically range between 1 and 3 feet long at maturity.
They can live for 10 or more years, although NOAA Fisheries scientists typically catch haddock that are between 3 and 7 years old.
They generally weigh between 2 and 7 pounds.
Appearance
Haddock are a fast-growing species that typically range between 1 and 3 feet long at maturity.
They can live for 10 or more years, although NOAA Fisheries scientists typically catch haddock that are between 3 and 7 years old.
They generally weigh between 2 and 7 pounds.
Haddock begin to reproduce between the ages of 1 and 4 years old and at 10.5 to 11.7 inches long.
They spawn between January and June on eastern Georges Bank, to the east of Nantucket Shoals and along the Maine coast over rock, gravel, sand, or mud bottoms.
Every year, an average-sized female produces around 850,000 eggs, and larger females can produce up to 3 million eggs.
Females release their eggs in batches near the ocean floor, where a courting male fertilizes them.
Once fertilized, eggs rise to the surface where they drift with ocean currents.
Newly hatched haddock remain near the surface for several months before they settle to the bottom.
Haddock feed on a variety of bottom-dwelling animals, including mollusks, worms, crustaceans, sea stars, sea urchins, sand dollars, brittle stars, and occasional fish eggs.
Adults sometimes eat small fish, especially herring.
Spiny dogfish, skates, and many groundfish species (cod, pollock, cusk, hake, monkfish, halibut, and sea raven) prey on juvenile haddock.
Gray seals also prey on haddock.
Where They Live Range Haddock are found on both sides of the North Atlantic.
In the western North Atlantic, they’re found from Newfoundland to Cape May, New Jersey, and are most abundant on Georges Bank and in the Gulf of Maine.
Habitat Haddock are groundfish—they live near the bottom and prefer habitats of gravel, pebbles, clay, and smooth hard sand.
These bottom types are more common on Georges Bank.
Haddock are more abundant there than in the Gulf of Maine.
Haddock are most common in waters approximately 130 to 500 feet deep and prefer temperatures below 45° F.
Juveniles are found in shallower water on bank and shoal areas, while larger adults are more common in deeper water.
Adults travel to shallower waters in the spring to spawn.
Fishery Management There are two stocks of haddock in U.S. waters, the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank stocks.
NOAA Fisheries and the New England Fishery Management Council manage Gulf of Maine haddock; NOAA Fisheries and the New England Fishery Management Council collaborate with Canada to jointly manage Georges Bank haddock, because the stock spans both waters.
Haddock, along with other groundfish in New England waters, are managed under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan , which includes: Permitting requirements for commercial vessels.
Separate management measures for recreational vessels.
Time/Area Closures to protect spawning fish and habitat.
Minimum fish sizes to prevent harvest of juvenile fish.
Annual catch limits, based on best available science.
An optional sector ( catch share ) program can be used for cod and other groundfish species.
The sector program allows fishermen to form harvesting cooperatives and work together to decide when, where, and how they harvest fish.
Harvest Commercial fishery: In 2024, commercial landings of haddock totaled 7 million pounds and were valued at approximately $9.7 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database .
Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Haddock are commonly harvested using trawl nets, gillnets, bottom longlines, and rod and reel.
Gillnets, longlines, and rod and reel used to harvest haddock have little to no impact on habitat.
Areas closures and gear restrictions reduce habitat impacts from trawl nets.
Fishermen follow management measures to designed to reduce interactions with marine mammals, including gear modifications, seasonal closures, and use of marine mammal deterrents.
Recreational fishery: Haddock are highly prized by recreational fishermen.
Recreational vessels make up a significant proportion of the harvest in the Gulf of Maine.
Haddock are commonly harvested by anglers fishing offshore waters with bait.
In 2024, recreational anglers landed 1.5 million pounds, according to the NOAA Fisheries recreational fishing landings database .
Regulations include seasons, minimum fish sizes and possession limits.
Scientific Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Gadiformes Family Gadidae Genus Melanogrammus Species aeglefinus Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 06/25/2026
Biology
Haddock are found on both sides of the North Atlantic.
In the western North Atlantic, they’re found from Newfoundland to Cape May, New Jersey, and are most abundant on Georges Bank and in the Gulf of Maine.
Habitat Haddock are groundfish—they live near the bottom and prefer habitats of gravel, pebbles, clay, and smooth hard sand.
These bottom types are more common on Georges Bank.
Haddock are more abundant there than in the Gulf of Maine.
Haddock are most common in waters approximately 130 to 500 feet deep and prefer temperatures below 45° F.
Juveniles are found in shallower water on bank and shoal areas, while larger adults are more common in deeper water.
Adults travel to shallower waters in the spring to spawn.
Fishery Management There are two stocks of haddock in U.S. waters, the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank stocks.
NOAA Fisheries and the New England Fishery Management Council manage Gulf of Maine haddock; NOAA Fisheries and the New England Fishery Management Council collaborate with Canada to jointly manage Georges Bank haddock, because the stock spans both waters.
Haddock, along with other groundfish in New England waters, are managed under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan , which includes: Permitting requirements for commercial vessels.
Separate management measures for recreational vessels.
Time/Area Closures to protect spawning fish and habitat.
Minimum fish sizes to prevent harvest of juvenile fish.
Annual catch limits, based on best available science.
An optional sector ( catch share ) program can be used for cod and other groundfish species.
The sector program allows fishermen to form harvesting cooperatives and work together to decide when, where, and how they harvest fish.
Harvest Commercial fishery: In 2024, commercial landings of haddock totaled 7 million pounds and were valued at approximately $9.7 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database .
Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Haddock are commonly harvested using trawl nets, gillnets, bottom longlines, and rod and reel.
Gillnets, longlines, and rod and reel used to harvest haddock have little to no impact on habitat.
Areas closures and gear restrictions reduce habitat impacts from trawl nets.
Fishermen follow management measures to designed to reduce interactions with marine mammals, including gear modifications, seasonal closures, and use of marine mammal deterrents.
Recreational fishery: Haddock are highly prized by recreational fishermen.
Recreational vessels make up a significant proportion of the harvest in the Gulf of Maine.
Haddock are commonly harvested by anglers fishing offshore waters with bait.
In 2024, recreational anglers landed 1.5 million pounds, according to the NOAA Fisheries recreational fishing landings database .
Regulations include seasons, minimum fish sizes and possession limits.
Scientific Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Gadiformes Family Gadidae Genus Melanogrammus Species aeglefinus Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 06/25/2026
Where they live
Range
Haddock are found on both sides of the North Atlantic.
In the western North Atlantic, they’re found from Newfoundland to Cape May, New Jersey, and are most abundant on Georges Bank and in the Gulf of Maine.
Habitat
There are two stocks of haddock in U.S. waters, the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank stocks.
NOAA Fisheries and the New England Fishery Management Council manage Gulf of Maine haddock; NOAA Fisheries and the New England Fishery Management Council collaborate with Canada to jointly manage Georges Bank haddock, because the stock spans both waters.
Haddock, along with other groundfish in New England waters, are managed under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan , which includes: Permitting requirements for commercial vessels.
Separate management measures for recreational vessels.
Time/Area Closures to protect spawning fish and habitat.
Minimum fish sizes to prevent harvest of juvenile fish.
Annual catch limits, based on best available science.
An optional sector ( catch share ) program can be used for cod and other groundfish species.
The sector program allows fishermen to form harvesting cooperatives and work together to decide when, where, and how they harvest fish.
Harvest Commercial fishery: In 2024, commercial landings of haddock totaled 7 million pounds and were valued at approximately $9.7 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database .
Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Haddock are commonly harvested using trawl nets, gillnets, bottom longlines, and rod and reel.
Gillnets, longlines, and rod and reel used to harvest haddock have little to no impact on habitat.
Areas closures and gear restrictions reduce habitat impacts from trawl nets.
Fishermen follow management measures to designed to reduce interactions with marine mammals, including gear modifications, seasonal closures, and use of marine mammal deterrents.
Recreational fishery: Haddock are highly prized by recreational fishermen.
Recreational vessels make up a significant proportion of the harvest in the Gulf of Maine.
Haddock are commonly harvested by anglers fishing offshore waters with bait.
In 2024, recreational anglers landed 1.5 million pounds, according to the NOAA Fisheries recreational fishing landings database .
Regulations include seasons, minimum fish sizes and possession limits.
Scientific Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Gadiformes Family Gadidae Genus Melanogrammus Species aeglefinus Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 06/25/2026
Ocean City & Mid-Atlantic context
From Ocean City, Maryland, use this Haddock profile as NOAA Mid-Atlantic directory context—not a promise you will meet the species on every charter.
Always verify current Maryland and federal size, season, and bag rules for your exact date and coordinates before you keep any catch.
Source facts and imagery are adapted from the NOAA Fisheries species profile for Haddock.
What charter to book from Ocean City
Haddock may appear on Ocean City trips depending on season and habitat—use the NOAA biology below and book the charter archetype that matches how you will actually fish.
Possible / related
Bay guide — Possible overlap depending on season, water, and boat program.
Inshore charter — Possible overlap depending on season, water, and boat program.
Commercial fishery: In 2024, commercial landings of haddock totaled 7 million pounds and were valued at approximately $9.7 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database .
Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Haddock are commonly harvested using trawl nets, gillnets, bottom longlines, and rod and reel.
Gillnets, longlines, and rod and reel used to harvest haddock have little to no impact on habitat.
Areas closures and gear restrictions reduce habitat impacts from trawl nets.
Fishermen follow management measures to designed to reduce interactions with marine mammals, including gear modifications, seasonal closures, and use of marine mammal deterrents.
Recreational fishery: Haddock are highly prized by recreational fishermen.
Recreational vessels make up a significant proportion of the harvest in the Gulf of Maine.
Haddock are commonly harvested by anglers fishing offshore waters with bait.
Harvest
See the NOAA wild-caught fishery section for landings and gear notes when published for this species.
Landings and management details matter most for the waters where Haddock is actually fished—see the
NOAA species profile
.
Seafood facts
Fact
Detail
Sustainability
U.S. wild-caught haddock is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught mostly from Maine to New Jersey.
Taste
Slightly sweet.
Texture
Firm yet tender. Its delicate flake is finer than that of cod.
Color
Raw haddock is white and becomes even whiter when cooked.
Health
Haddock is a great source of low-fat protein, magnesium, and selenium.
After a real OC boat day or market stop for Haddock, Seafood after boat days covers
dock buffer and cook-your-catch pacing.
