Age and growth of jackass morwong (Nemadactylus macropterus Bloch & Schneider) in eastern Australian waters

Abstract

N. macropterus, landed at the port of Eden, were sampled from July 1976 to June 1979. Saggital otoliths were used for age determination. A hyaline and an opaque ring were found to be formed during winter and summer. respectively. The growth of adult N. macropterus was adequately described by the von Bertalanffy growth curve. Females (K = 0.13, L_∞ = 51.13) were found to grow faster, and to a greater age, than males (K = 0.17. L_∞ = 45.50). No significant difference between sexes was apparent in the length-weight relationships.