Seasonal Occurrence, Growth, and Length-Weight Relationship of Juvenile Pompano, Trachinotus carolinus, in Louisiana

Abstract

Abstract Juvenile pompano (Trachinotus carolinus) were collected with beach seines from Grand Isle, Louisiana, during the summer of 1968. Additional fish were obtained from Holly Beach, Louisiana, to supplement length-weight data. Length-frequency distributions of 4,082 fish were used to follow the arrival and growth of juveniles at Grand Isle. Seven waves of juvenile recruitment were recognized. The estimated time of arrival of the first wave was mid-April; the last wave arrived in early September. Other waves arrived approximately 15 to 30 days apart; the heaviest concentration of fish on the beach was from June through early August. Length-frequency data indicated that juvenile pompano grew an average of 36 mm per month, with a range from 27 to 42 mm. Water temperatures ranged from 17.5 to 34.0 C at Grand Isle. Salinities were as low as 12.5 ppt at Holly Beach and as high as 32.6 ppt at Grand Isle. Data failed to show any relationship between temperature, salinity, and the seasonal arrival of juvenile ...