Age, growth, maturity, and spawning of Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus maculatus (Mitchill), from the Atlantic Coast of the southeastern United States

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Author

Schmidt, David J.

Collins, Mark R.

Wyanski, David M.

Subject

Spanish mackerel

Description

Sectioned sagittae of 1,039 Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus maculatus (Mitchim, from the Atlantic coast of the southeastern United States (North Carolina to Florida) were examined. The oldest male was age 6 and the oldest female age 11. Marginal increment analysis indicated that annulus formation peaks in May-June. The von Bertalanffy growth equation parameters (L_, k, and to' respectively) were: 538mm fork length <FLJ, 0.31, and -2.31 for males; 723mm FL, 0.24, and -1.80 for females; and, 760mm FL. 0.18. and -2.44 for sexes combined. Gonads from 1,742 specimens were examined histologically to assess reproductive state. Mature gonads were present in 89% of age-O males and 100% of older ages, whereas 5% of females were mature at age 0, 95% at age 1, and 100% at older ages. Females matured at 88450mm FL and males matured at 209-336mm FL. Estimates of length at 50% maturity (Lso) were 35.8 cm FL for females and 23.9 cm FL for males. Females were in spawning condition from May to August; ripe males were captured April November. Resting specimens were included in the assessment of maturity and the disadvantages of their inclusion are discussed.

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10827/10544

Collections

• Fishery Bulletin

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Date

1993

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Date Accessioned	2013-08-22T13:01:33Z
Date Available	2013-08-22T13:01:33Z
dc.description	Sectioned sagittae of 1,039 Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus maculatus (Mitchim, from the Atlantic coast of the southeastern United States (North Carolina to Florida) were examined. The oldest male was age 6 and the oldest female age 11. Marginal increment analysis indicated that annulus formation peaks in May-June. The von Bertalanffy growth equation parameters (L_, k, and to' respectively) were: 538mm fork length <FLJ, 0.31, and -2.31 for males; 723mm FL, 0.24, and -1.80 for females; and, 760mm FL. 0.18. and -2.44 for sexes combined. Gonads from 1,742 specimens were examined histologically to assess reproductive state. Mature gonads were present in 89% of age-O males and 100% of older ages, whereas 5% of females were mature at age 0, 95% at age 1, and 100% at older ages. Females matured at 88450mm FL and males matured at 209-336mm FL. Estimates of length at 50% maturity (Lso) were 35.8 cm FL for females and 23.9 cm FL for males. Females were in spawning condition from May to August; ripe males were captured April November. Resting specimens were included in the assessment of maturity and the disadvantages of their inclusion are discussed.
Media Type	Document
Item Language	English
Publisher	South Carolina State Library
Digital Collection	South Carolina State Documents Depository
Rights	Copyright status undetermined. For more information contact, South Carolina State Library, 1500 Senate Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201.
Type	Text
Digitization Specifications	This South Carolina State Document was either saved from a document available publicly online in PDF format or converted to PDF using Adobe Acrobat X Professional.