FISHERY BULLETIN: VOL. 86, NO. 4 



STAGE 



4 Running 



fmamj jasond 



MALE 

 100 



N=45 



LLI 

 O 

 IT 

 lU 

 Q. 



Figure 5.— Reproductive seasonality of female and male tilefish as indicated by the percent of various 

 visual maturity stages collected by month from 1978 to 1982. 



Log-transformed models produced slightly super- 

 ior fits, with length proving a slightly better pre- 

 dictor of ovarian egg count than weight (log^ Y = 

 4.75 log, FL - 5.2, r^ = 0.62, n = 48; log, Y = 

 1.48 log, W + 2.48, r^ = 0.59, n = 48). Based upon 

 our estimates, a first spawning female would pro- 

 duce <500,000 eggs. 



DISCUSSION 



Seasonality and Spawning 



It seems clear that the northern stock of Lopho- 

 latilus chamaeleonticeps consists of fractional 



spawners over an 8 or 9 month season, with peak 

 spawning from May to September. Our findings 

 agree with the limited information previously re- 

 ported. Collins (1884) reported ripe fish in July; 

 Bigelow and Schroeder (1953) in August; Dooley 

 (1978) in February, March, June, and July; Morse 

 (MS)^ March through August; and Freeman and 

 Turner (1977) from mid-March to mid-September. 

 Other members of the Branchiostegidae (Caulola- 

 tilus microps, C. chrysops, C. princeps, C. affinis, 



'Morse, W. W. Length, weight, spawning and fecundity of the 

 tilefish, Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps, from New Jersey waters. 

 Unpubl. manuscr. Northeast Fish. Cent. Sandy Hook Lab., Natl. 

 Mar. Fish. Serv., NOAA, Highlands, NJ 07732. 



754 



