AUG 



FISHERY BULLETIN: VOL. 80, NO. 3 



1 OCT 1977; n = 628 



14,15 JUN. 

 MAY 77 ? n = 329 



70 90 110 130 



STANDARD LENGTH (mm) 



30 50 70 90 110 130 150 



TOTAL LENGTH (mm) 



170 



190 



210 



230 



Figure 4.— Monthly length frequencies (moving averages of three) of C. nothus captured off Freeport. Group identity (ID) 



often is not clear where spawned groups meet. 



of most large individuals off Port Aransas in fall 

 1977 is not certain. 



Greatest or most successful spawning occurs 

 during late summer. Many fish 25-65 mm SL 

 were taken at 11 , 12, and 29 m off Port Aransas in 

 late September (August 7 7 group in Figure 3). 

 This August-spawned group was collected at 

 widely separated locations and formed a princi- 

 pal mode off Port Arnasas through early Decem- 

 ber. Fish of this size also formed a dominant 

 mode off Freeport from October through Decem- 



ber (August77 group in Figure 4). Similarly, a 

 group hatched in September formed a principal 

 mode off Port Aransas and Freeport during 

 November and December (September group in 

 Figures 3, 4). In contrast to these late summer 

 groups, fish hatched in late spring did not form 

 dominant modes. 



Gonad maturity data suggest that C. nothus 

 spawns from May through September in agree- 

 ment with the spawning season indicated by 

 length frequencies. Gravid or ripe females were 



492 



