Abstract-Gray triggerfish (Bali-stes (−0.33(t+1.58)) ). Natural mortality (M) estimated by Hewitt and Hoenig's longevity-based method that integrates all ages was 0.28. Age-specific M values, estimated with the method of Charnov and others, were 0.65, 0.45, 0.38, 0.34, and 0.33 for ages 1, 3, 5, 10, and 15, respectively. Gray triggerfish recruited fully to recreational fisheries by age 4 and to the commercial fishery by age 5. Estimates of total mortality averaged 0.95 across all fisheries for the years 1986-2011.

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AbstrAct:We determined ages of Blackfin Snapper (Lutjanus buccanella Cuvier 1828; n = 622) collected from the southeastern United States coast and U.S. Caribbean from 1979-2015 using sectioned sagittal otoliths. Opaque zones were determined to be annular, forming March -July (peaking in April-June). Blackfin Snapper ranged from 1-27 years and from 180-609 mm total length (TL). Body size relationships for Blackfin Snapper were: TL = 1.09 FL + 0.81 (n = 203, r 2 = 0.99); FL = 0.91 TL + 3.38 (n = 203, r 2 = 0.99); TL = 1.23 SL + 14.27 (n = 83, r 2 = 0.97); FL = 1.14 SL + 10.84 (n = 83, r 2 = 0.99); W = 7.79 x 10 -9 TL 3.09 (n = 216); and W = 9.54 x 10 -9 FL 3.11 (n = 228). The von Bertalanffy growth equation was: L t = 549 (1 -e -0.20 (t +1.51) ) (n = 622). Point estimate of natural mortality was M = 0.16, while age-specific estimates of M ranged from 0.65-0.21/y for ages 1-27. This study presents the first findings of life history parameters for Blackfin Snapper from the Atlantic waters off the southeastern United States and U.S. Caribbean.

Coney (Cephalopholis fulva) sampled from recreational and commercial vessels along the southeastern coast of the United States in 1998–2013 (n = 353) were aged by counting opaque bands on sectioned sagittal otoliths. Analysis of otolith edge type (opaque or translucent) revealed that annuli formed in January–June with a peak in April. Coney were aged up to 19 years, and the largest fish measured 430 mm in total length (TL). The weight-length relationship was ln(W) = 3.03 × ln(TL) − 18.05 (n = 487; coefficient of determination [r2] = 0.91), where W = whole weight in kilograms and and TL = total length in millimeters. Mean observed sizes at ages 1, 3, 5, 10, and 19 years were 225, 273, 307, 338, and 400 mm TL, respectively. The von Bertalanffy growth equation for coney was Lt = 377 (1 − e(−0.20(t+3.53))). Natural mortality (M) estimated by Hewitt and Hoenig’s longevity-based method which integrates all ages was 0.22. Age-specific M values, estimated with the method of Charnov and others, were 0.40, 0.30, 0.26, 0.22, and 0.20 for ages 1, 3, 5, 10, and 19, respectively.