Distribution, Seasonality and Abundance of King and Spanish Mackerel Larve in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico (Pisces: Scombridae)

Abstract

Larvae of king mackerel, Scomberomorus cavalla, and Spanish mackerel, S. maculatus were collected from 1975 through 1977 off the Texas coast. Both species were captured from May through October. S. cavalla was relatively more abundant of the two species and occurred most abundantly over the middle and outer continental shelf (35-183 m). At least 35% of the larvae were captured in September of each year. S. maculatus larvae occurred most abundantly over the inner continental shelf (12 to 50 m). S. cavalla spawned from May through September to early October, with the greatest spawning intensity occurring over the middle and outer continental shelf during September. S. maculatus spawned from May through September to early October over the inner continental shelf, but spawning was less intensive and more irregular than for S. cavalla. Comparisons with other larval studies of S. cavalla and S. maculatus suggest that the northwestern and northeastern Gulf of Mexico and the coast off the southeastern United Stales are important spawning areas for S. cavalla and that the eastern and northeastern Gulf of Mexico are important spawning areas for S. maculatus.