832 



Fishery Bulletin 97(4), 1999 



<U 20 



50 • 

 100- 



Recreational 

 n=661 



0=^ 



^ 1 1 1 1 1 1 r 1 



50 100 150 200 250 300 350 dOO 450 500 550 SCO 



O 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 



Trawl 

 n=27 



50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 



Male 

 rte392 



Female 

 n=430 



: 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 r 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 r r 1 



50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 



Total length (mm) 



Figure 2 



Total length.s of vermilion snapper from the eastern Gulf of Mexico 

 by sampling source and by sex. 



cantly different from 1:1 (x- = 1.175, df=l, 

 F>0.05). Seasonal sex ratios based on three- 

 month intervals (December-February, 

 March-May, June-August, September-No- 

 vember) ranged from 1:1 to 1:1.2 and were 

 not significantly different from 1:1 (X" =0.017 

 to 1.045, df=l,P>0.05). 



Age and growth 



Under reflected light, alternating opaque 

 (white) and translucent (dark) zones were 

 evident on vermilion snapper otoliths (Fig. 

 1). Two readers examined a subsample of 200 

 otoliths, and 57% of their readings were in 

 agreement. Most of the disagreements 

 (82.6'^) differed by only one opaque zone. A 

 second independent reading of the subsample 

 by the two readers resulted in complete agree- 

 ment (lOC^). Of 858 sectioned otoliths exam- 

 ined, 841 OS'/f ) could be assigned ages. Of the 

 otoliths that could be aged, measurements for 

 marginal-increment analyses could not be 

 made for 50 individuals (5.9'^) because of bro- 

 ken or occluded areas along the otolith radius. 

 Analyses of marginal-increment data for 

 fish ages 2 to 10 suggested that opaque zones 

 were formed once a year during the late 

 spring to early summer (Fig. 3). During this 

 time, the widest increments (opaque zone for- 

 mation was imminent) and the narrowest 

 increments (opaque zone formation was just 

 completed ) were present. In addition, monthly 

 median marginal increments for ages 2 to 10 

 had a consistent yearly pattern of high me- 



