Abstract

AbstractWe present the first comprehensive description of the age, growth, and reproductive life history traits of scamps Mycteroperca phenax from the northern Gulf of Mexico. Scamps were collected from commercial and recreational vessels along the northern Gulf of Mexico in 1972–2002. Scamp age was determined using thin transverse sections of sagittal otoliths; growth increments were difficult to interpret, and age was estimated for only 85% of the 5,383 otolith sections we examined. Scamps sampled from the commercial and recreational fisheries ranged from 109 to 890 mm fork length (FL) and from 1 to 31 years of age. We fitted annual ages and observed FLs to two different von Bertalanffy growth models (standard and size‐modified models). The size‐modified model considered the effect of the size limit but resulted in growth parameters similar to those of the standard model (asymptotic length L∞ = 772 mm FL; growth rate k = 0.09 mm/year). Histology confirmed that scamps are protogynous hermaphrodites; gonadosomatic index data indicated a prolonged spawning season (January–June, peaking in April). Females reached maturity at a median FL of 332 mm and a median age of 2 years. Scamp sizes sampled from the fisheries were similar for males (221–870 mm FL) and females (109–878 mm FL), but the larger size‐classes and older age‐classes were mostly composed of males. The scamp population in the northern Gulf of Mexico has never been assessed, and our data provide highly valuable model inputs.Received February 7, 2011; accepted February 8, 2012

Highlights

  • We present the first comprehensive description of the age, growth, and reproductive life history traits of scamps

  • Scamps constitute a small component of the northern Gulf of Mexico grouper commercial and recreational landings and are primarily harvested by handline gear

  • A majority of scamps are landed commercially, with only 12% being landed by recreational fishers (NOAA Fisheries Statistics Division, personal communication), and most (76%) of those are caught in Florida waters

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Summary

Introduction

We present the first comprehensive description of the age, growth, and reproductive life history traits of scamps. Scamps were collected from commercial and recreational vessels along the northern Gulf of Mexico in 1972–2002. Scamps sampled from the commercial and recreational fisheries ranged from 109 to 890 mm fork length (FL) and from 1 to 31 years of age. The specific life history characteristics for scamps distributed in the Gulf of Mexico are fairly unknown, as only a minor description of the scamp’s reproductive behavior and seasonality is available in the literature (FMRI 1991; Coleman et al 1996). Scamps constitute a small component of the northern Gulf of Mexico grouper commercial and recreational landings and are primarily harvested by handline gear (e.g., bandit reel and hook and line; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA], Fisheries Statistics Division, personal communication). Scamps are not caught commercially as frequently as the other grouper species, but they normally bring higher dockside prices (FMRI 1991) and historically have been the most valuable food fish among all grouper species (Jordan and Swain 1885)

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