Ages of jolthead porgy (Calamus bajonado Schneider 1801) (n = 635) from Florida commercial and recreational fisheries from 2008–2016 were determined using sectioned sagittal otoliths. We determined, using edge-type analysis, that opaque zones were annular, forming March–June (peaking in April). Jolthead porgy ranged from 1–13 years, and the largest fish measured 680 mm TL (total length, mm). Body size relationships for jolthead porgy were TL = 1.09FL + 20.44 (n = 622, r2 = 0.99), FL = 0.90 TL –14.26 (n = 622, r2 = 0.99), and W = 1.1 × 10−5 TL3.06 (n = 577), where W is total weight (grams, g) and FL is fork length (mm). The von Bertalanffy growth equation for jolthead porgy was Lt = 737(1 − e−0.14(t+2.02)) (n = 635). Point estimate of natural mortality was M = 0.32, while age-specific estimates of M ranged from 0.58–0.17 y−1 for ages 1–13. Catch curve analysis estimated the instantaneous rate of total mortality Z = 0.70, while instantaneous rate of fishing mortality F was 0.38. Macroscopic staging of female gonads indicated the presence of hydrated oocytes from December–March, and GSI data indicates that peak spawning in females occurs during March. This study presents the first published findings of life history parameters for jolthead porgy from the Atlantic waters off the southeastern United States.

The Knobbed Porgy Calamus nodosus, an important secondary species in reef fish catches of the southeastern United States, was recently the subject of a fishery closure due to the porgy complex quota being exceeded. Knobbed Porgy (n = 448) were aged using sectioned sagittal otoliths. Opaque zones on otolith sections were annular, forming in March–July (peaking in May). Knobbed Porgy ranged from 1 to 21 years, and the largest fish measured 507 mm TL. Body size relationships relating TL, FL, and total body weight (W) for Knobbed Porgy were TL = 1.07·FL + 22.93 (n = 3,173; r2 = 0.97), FL = 0.91·TL − 12.54 (n = 3,173; r2 = 0.97), W = (1.38 × 10−5)TL3.03 (n = 12,732; r2 = 0.92), and W = (7.99 × 10−5)FL2.79 (n = 3,199; r2 = 0.90). Mean length at age was significantly different between Knobbed Porgy collected in North Carolina through southeast Florida (northern region) and those collected in the Florida Keys (southern region). The von Bertalanffy growth equations for Knobbed Porgy were Lt = 412[1 − e−0.20(t + 1.97)] (n = 448) for all regions combined, Lt = 403[1 − e−0.38(t + 0.0001)] (n = 117) for northern region fish, and Lt = 326[1 − e−0.42(t + 1.61)] (n = 331) for southern region fish. Age‐varying estimates of natural mortality were 0.36–0.79 year−1 (ages 2–21) for the northern region and 0.42–0.67 year−1 (ages 1–12) for fish from the Florida Keys. Hydrated oocytes were present during February–April in macroscopically staged ovaries (n = 148) for fish from the Florida Keys, and gonadosomatic index data indicated that the month of peak spawning in females was April. The updated life history information should be useful to fishery managers in formulating effective management strategies.

No abstract

Ages of whitebone porgy (Calamus leucosteus) (n = 559) from southeastern U. S. commercial and recreational fisheries from 1975 – 2017 were determined using sectioned otoliths. Opaque zones were annular, forming April – July (peaking in June). Ages ranged from 2 – 19 years, and the largest fish measured 513 mm TL (total length, mm). Body size relationships were: TL = 1.09 FL + 16.07 (n = 469, r2 = 0.97), FL = 0.89 TL – 6.39 (n= 469, r2 = 0.97), W = 2.8 x 10-5 TL2.91 (n = 462), and W = 6.8 x 10-5 FL2.82 (n = 417) where W is total weight (grams, g) and FL is fork length (mm). The von Bertalanffy growth equations were Lt = 365 (1 - e-0.35 (t + 1.37)) (n = 559) for all areas combined, Lt = 365 (1 - e-0.55(t + 0.00)) (n = 185) for fish from North Carolina through Cape Canaveral, Florida, and Lt = 368 (1 - e-0.25 (t + 2.51)) (n = 374) for fish from southeast Florida. Mean size-at-age was significantly different between regions for ages 4 – 9, (92% of total samples). Point estimates of natural mortality were M = 0.22 and M = 0.30 for northern- and southern-region fish, respectively, while age-specific estimates of M were 0.85 – 0.55 y-1 for ages 2– 19 for the northern region and 0.41 – 0.26 (ages 2-14) for southern region fish. This study presents updated life history parameters for whitebone porgy from the Atlantic waters off the southeastern United States.