SEASONAL SPAWNING CYCLE, SPAWNING FREQUENCY, AND BATCH 



FECUNDITY OF THE CABEZON, SCORPAENJCHTHYS MARMORATUS, 



IN PUGET SOUND, WASHINGTON' 



Robert R. Lauth^ 



ABSTRACT 



The seasonal spawning cycle, spawning frequency, and batch fecundity -of the cabezon, Scorpaenichthys 

 maTmoratus, were studied in Puget Sound, Washington, USA between September 1984 and October 

 1985 using scuba techniques. Seasonal embryo mass abundance and ovarian condition indicated that the 

 spawning season started in November and continued 10 months through the following September while 

 peak spawning activity occurred during March and April. Three factors revealed in this study indicated 

 that females may spawn more than once during a single spawning season: 1) the presence of an inter- 

 mediate mode of yolked oocytes, 2) a low wet gonadosomatic weight index, and 3) a protracted spawn- 

 ing season. Batch fecundities predicted from regressions on weight and length ranged between 66,000 

 and 152,000 eggs for females from 2.5 kg to 10.5 kg and between 57,000 and 137,000 eggs for females 

 from 500 mm to 775 mm. 



Out of approximately 300 cottid species worldwide 

 (Nelson 1984), the cabezon, Scorpaenichthys mar- 

 moratus, is perhaps the largest (Jordan and Ever- 

 man 1898) and can attain a length of 990 mm and 

 a weight of 11.4 kg (Feder et al, 1974). Cabezon 

 range from Pt. Abrejos, Baja California (Miller and 

 Lea 1972) to Samsing Cove near Sitka, AK (Quast 

 1968). Their depth range in California is from near- 

 shore tidepools to 76 m (Feder et al. 1974). Cabezon 

 are demersal and solitary and are usually associated 

 with reefs, boulders, or beds of kelp, algae, or 

 eelgrass. 



A small recreational fishery exists for cabezon. 

 For divers who spearfish, cabezon are prime targets 

 because of their trophy size, desirable food qualities, 

 and general vulnerability in shallow nearshore 

 habitats. Knowledgeable anglers also enjoy catching 

 and eating cabezon even though they are not 

 generally targeted (Olander 1984). 



Although cabezon are not targeted by a commer- 

 cial fishery at present, they are incidental in com- 

 mercial catches and they do occasionally appear in 

 fish markets along the west coast (Ayres 1854; 

 O'Connell 1953; personal observations in fish mar- 

 kets in Seattle, WA). 



There is little published information on cabezon 



'Contribution Number 786, School of Fisheries, University of 

 Washington, Seattle, WA 98195. 



^School of Fisheries, WH-10. University of Washington, Seattle, 

 WA 98195; present address: Inter-American Tropical Tuna Com- 

 mission, cyo Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La JoUa, CA 

 92093. 



reproductive biology aside from a life history study 

 in Monterey, CA done by O'Connell (1953), studies 

 of cabezon roe toxicity (Fuhrman et al. 1969, 1970; 

 Hashimoto et al. 1976; Hubbs and Wick 1951; Pills- 

 bury 1957), and diving observations of cabezon nest- 

 ing behavior in a California kelp forest (Feder et al. 

 1974). Spawning season, spawning frequency, and 

 batch fecundity of cabezon north of California have 

 to date, not been studied. Thus, it seems prudent 

 that we learn about the reproductive biology of 

 cabezon in other areas, especially because of their 

 value as a fishery resource. The objective of this 

 study was to examine the spawning ecology of cabe- 

 zon in Puget Sound, WA and to make a geograph- 

 ical comparison with data for cabezon in California. 



METHODS AND MATERIALS 



Study Sites 



Sampling consisted of transect and collection 

 dives. Sampling began in September 1984 and ended 

 in October 1985 and was done using scuba tech- 

 niques. Edmonds Underwater Park and the Ed- 

 monds Marina breakwater, both located in Ed- 

 monds, WA, USA Oat. 47°48'N, long. 122°22'W; 

 Fig. 1), were chosen as study sites because they had 

 been previously identified by the author as spawn- 

 ing areas for cabezon. Two transects, each cover- 

 ing 250 m', were established along a scuttled dry 

 dock at Edmonds Underwater Park. Transect 1 was 

 the remains of the northern bulkhead of the drydock 



Manuscript accepted September 1988. 

 Fishery Bulletin, U.S. 87:145-154. 



145 



