Table 3. — Number of sampling stations, and number and length of Atlantic croaker larvae collected in Onslow 

 Bay and Newport River estuary, N.C., October-March 1972-73 and 1973-74. 



ruary (same as spot). In November, mean length 

 increased from offshore to inshore (no larvae were 

 caught in the estuary). During each of the other 

 months, mean lengths progressively increased from 

 offshore to the estuary. Larval distribution and size 

 indicated a greater frequency of spawning closer to 

 shore by Atlantic croaker than by spot. Also, the 

 Atlantic croaker larvae were recruited into the es- 

 tuary earlier in the season and at a smaller size than 

 were spot larvae. 



Atlantic Croaker, 1973-74 Season 



Samples were taken from May 1973 through April 

 1974, but not all stations were sampled each month 

 (Table 3). Eight Atlantic croaker larvae, ranging in 

 length from 3.3 to 5.2 mm, were caught at estuarine 

 stations in September and were the smallest caught 

 in the estuary (not included in Table 2). In October, 

 no samples were taken at offshore stations but larvae 

 were caught at four inshore and two estuarine 

 stations. Preflexion larvae (2.0-4.0 mm), which 

 denote recent spawning, were caught at one inshore 

 station. Larvae caught at estuarine stations were 

 either flexion (4.1-5.0 mm) or postflexion (>5.0 mm). 

 In November, larvae were caught at one offshore, 

 four inshore, and two estuarine stations. Preflexion 

 larvae were caught at one offshore and three inshore 

 stations. This was the last month that preflexion lar- 

 vae were present, except for one caught in January. 

 Larvae caught in the estuary were all postflexion. In 

 December, no Atlantic croaker larvae were caught at 

 offshore stations, but they were caught at four in- 

 shore stations and at two estuarine stations. Size 



ranged from 4.8 mm inshore to 11.8 mm in the es- 

 tuary. In January, larvae were caught at three 

 offshore and two inshore stations, but none were 

 caught at any estuarine stations. Larvae caught 

 offshore ranged from 4.0 to 5.6 mm, indicating that 

 spawning had probably occurred between our 

 December and January collections. Larvae caught in- 

 shore were all postflexion. In February and March, 

 larvae were not caught at any offshore and inshore 

 stations, but were caught at two estuarine stations in 

 February and three in March. All larvae were 

 postflexion. In April, two offshore, seven inshore, and 

 four estuarine stations were sampled, but only one 

 larva was caught, a 6.0 mm larva at an inshore 

 station. 



Certain similarities were noted between the 1972- 

 73 and 1973-74 spawning seasons, even though only 

 a limited number of Atlantic croaker larvae were 

 caught during the latter period, and not enough were 

 caught during any month to determine the time of 

 peak abundance. From October through March, an 

 average of only 0.4 and 1.9 mm larvae/station sam- 

 pled were caught offshore and inshore, respectively. 

 When larvae were caught in each of the three areas, 

 mean lengths progressively increased from offshore 

 to the estuary. When larvae were caught in only two 

 areas, mean length increased either from offshore to 

 inshore or from inshore to the estuary. Distribution 

 and size of larvae indicated a greater frequency of 

 spawning closer to shore by the Atlantic croaker than 

 by spot, as with larvae caught during 1972-73. Also, 

 as in 1972-73, Atlantic croaker larvae were recruited 

 into the estuary earlier in the season and at a smaller 

 size than were spot larvae. 



409 



