On the life‐history of Atractoscion aequidens, a migratory sciaenid off the east coast of southern Africa

Abstract

East coast geelbek exist as a single stock comprising three distinct age/size structured subpopulations. The subadults (1-4 years) occur in the SW Cape, South Africa. They feed principally on anchovy Engruulis cupensis, which they follow inshore in summer and offshore in winter. The adults (5-9+ years) undergo a seasonal inshore and longshore migration to Natal where they spawn offshore in spring. During this migration they feed mainly on the pilchard Surdinops sugax, which also move north-eastwards during this time, facilitated by regional oceanographic conditions. ' Adolescent ' fish (415 years) appear to undergo limited gonadal growth and partially accompany the spawning stock on their migration. It is suggested that the eggs, larvae and early juveniles are transported southwards by the peripheral inshore waters of the Agulhas Current. Juveniles ( 1 2 years) use the SE Cape region as a nursery area for about 1 year, initially feeding on mysids and then switching to anchovy, before moving southwestwards to join the subadults in the SW Cape region. 'C 1995 The Fisheries Socirty of the British lslcs

Movement patterns of red steenbras Petrus rupestris tagged and released in the Tsitsikamma National Park, South Africa

“…However, some species have predictable migrations (Griffiths and Hecht 1995), whereas others disperse unpredictably (Attwood and Bennett 1994). Although many South African sparids are resident throughout their lives Allen 1989, Cowley et al 2002), the longshore migrations of adult red steenbras observed in this study support Smale's (1988) suggestion that they migrate to the Transkei Coast.…”

Feeding ecology of South African Argyrosomus japonicus (Pisces: Sciaenidae), with emphasis on the Eastern Cape surf zone

“…migrate from the Cape waters to KwaZulu-Natal at the same time as do adult dusky kob (Griffiths 1996). These concurrently migrating prey species may provide an important source of energy for both migration and gonad development, as has been shown for S. sagax and the migratory sciaenid Atractoscion aequidens (Griffiths and Hecht 1995).…”

Spatial and temporal use of spawning aggregation sites by the tropical sciaenid Protonibea diacanthus

“…Other sciaenids, e.g. Argyrosomus japonicus (Smale 1985), Atractoscion aequidens (Griffiths & Hecht 1995) were predominately tagged at the southern end. The bathymetry and morphology of the channel where individual P. diacanthus were present is likely to have influenced the ability of the receiver to detect the fish, and also the fish's behaviour (see discussion of tidal influence).…”