Age and growth of the Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus brasiliensis) caught off northeastern Brazil were determined. A total of 831 otoliths were examined - 296 from males (12 - 75 cm FL), 212 from females (11.5 - 72 cm FL) and 323 from specimens of undetermined sex (12.4 - 75 cm FL). There was a high percentage of juveniles in the catches, resulting mainly from the use of gillnets. Marginal increment analysis of the otoliths indicated that the shortest distances from the last ring to the edge occurred from November to May, laying down just one ring annually. One to eight rings were found, with specimen lengths ranging from 11.5 to 75.8 cm. The Schunute model was used to determine what model was best fit the data, demonstrating that the specialized von... |