Age, Growth, and Mortality of Atlantic Croaker in North Carolina, with Comments on Population Dynamics

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Abstract
Atlantic croakers Micropogonias undulatus collected during 1979–1981 in North Carolina were aged (N = 2,369) with scales and length frequencies. Eight age-classes were observed, but fish more than 3–4 years old were uncommon. Mean observed total lengths (TL) for ages 1–7 were 192, 271, 320, 371, 430, 473, and 514 mm, respectively. The largest Atlantic croaker aged was 521 mm TL (age 7). Sizes-at-age from scale data agreed well with length frequencies. Scales may be used to age Atlantic croaker up to age 5, but beyond this, annual marks are difficult to validate, Growth was rapid until age 1. The von Bertalanffy growth coefficient (K = 0.20) indicated that maximum size was attained slowly. The total annual mortality rate calculated from a catch curve of age-1–5 fish in a long-haul seine fishery was 73%. The relationship between weight (W, g) and total length (mm) was W = 3.21 × 10–9(TL)3.23; N = 1,947. Two groups of Atlantic croaker may overlap in North Carolina; the group that occurs mainly offsh...

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