208 



Fishery Bulletin 98(1) 



Q1 SycUi;u> J 



D 



"*«^ 



Q 18940007-6 



ing categories (Fig. 8); only 29 females of uncertain 

 maturity were excluded from analyses. Samples col- 

 lected primarily with longlines and chevron traps in 

 1991-95 revealed that snowy grouper become sex- 

 ually mature at lengths of 451 to 575 mm (ages 

 3-7; Tables 8 and 9). Mature gonads were present 

 in 4% of females at age 3, 527f at age 5, 95% at 

 age 7, and 100% at ages >7 (Table 9). The smallest 

 mature female was 469 mm, and the largest imma- 

 ture female was 575 mm. Estimates of L,;^ and Aj,^ 

 were 541 mm (gompit model; 95% CI=529-553 mm) 

 and 4.92 yr (probit model; 95% CI=4.65-5.21 yr). 



Samples collected primarily with bandit reels and 

 longlines in 1980—85 showed that snowy grouper 

 reached sexual maturity at similar lower limits of 

 length and age, 476-500 mm and age 3, although 

 sample sizes were small (<10) in the length and age 

 intervals near the lower limit (Tables 8 and 9). Upper 

 limits of size and age at maturity were higher, 626—650 

 mm and age 9, during this period and better defined 

 owing to larger sample sizes in comparison to those 

 for 1991-95. Mature gonads were present in 33% of 

 females at age 3, 62% at age 5, 91% at age 7, 95% at 

 age 9, and 100% at ages >9 (Table 9). The smallest 



