Age, growth and maturity of false scad Caranx rhonchus in the Central Aegean Sea (Teleostei: Carangidae)

This study investigates the age, growth and maturity of false scad (Caranx rhonchus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817) in the İzmir Bay, the Central Aegean Sea. The total length of 392 fish varied between 12.8-36.0 cm and their weights were measured as 23.51-455.44 g. Sex ratio was 1:0.8 (F:M). Sagittal otoliths were used for age determination. Fish were between I-V age groups in the bay. The length-weight relationships were calculated as W= 0.0145*L2.8911 for females; W= 0.0168*L2.8425 for males, and W= 0.0132*L2.9259 for all fish. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were found as L∞= 40.86 cm, K= 0.2181 years-1, to= -1.0584 years for females; L∞= 39.54 cm, K= 0.2156 years-1, to= -0.963 years for males; and L∞= 41.12 cm, K=0.2061 years-1, to= -1.0548 years for all fish, respectively. The growth performance index values (Φ) were 2.532 for females, 2.555 for males, and 2.542 for all fish. The length at first maturity was calculated as 18.53 cm for females, and 18.95 cm for males.