SECTION 17 

 Tilefish {Lovholatilus ahartaeleontiaevs) 



Life History Summary 



Tilefish are one of the most abundant bottom-dwelling fish species 

 occurring on the outer continental shelf. Their wide distribution extends 

 from the continental slope of the Scotian Shelf to Surinam, South America 

 (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953). They live in a narrow temperature band (9.4- 

 14.4°C) with the largest catches taken in depths from 110 to 730 m (Freeman 

 and Turner 1977). This species shows a concentration pattern between Veatch 

 and Hudson Canyons in the Middle Atlantic Bight, and a second area of 

 concentration off southeastern Florida. 



Active recreational and commercial fisheries exist for tilefish. 

 Recently, a significant recreational fishery by party and charter boats has 

 developed. This recreational fishery is mostly a rod and reel, spring through 

 fall, fair-weather fishery, while the year-round commercial fishery has had a 

 longer history. Since 1915, when a massive public campaign was initiated to 

 introduce tilefish as an alternative food source, the market has fluctuated 

 erratically. Long-lining has been the traditional method of capture, but 

 trawling has recently been successfully attempted. 



Adult female tilefish are smaller and weigh less than males of the same 

 age, and nature at an earlier age than do males. Females are in spawning 

 condition from mid-March to mid-September, with the peak spawning time in late 

 May to June. An estimated 0.5 to 1 million eggs are produced per kilogram of 

 body weight (Freeman and Turner ly 77 ) , and it nas been hypothesized that, due 

 to the various sizes of eggs found during the spawning season, tilefish may be 



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