Analysis of sizes and weight-length relation of the striped marlin, Tetrapturus sudax (Philippi, 1887) in Baja California Sur, Mexico

The region of Los Cabos, located at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, supports an important sport fishing of billfishes. However, studies of the biological and fishing aspects of this group (specially Tetruptums audax) in this area are scarce. The information used in this study was gathered from taxidermic records between 1977 and 1989 and from biological samples taken from 1987 to 1989. Size distribution of T. audax was analyzed using the method of Bhattacharya (Anónimo, 1989) and weight-length relationship was obtained using the postorbital length. The trimestrial analysis of size distribution showed modal groups of similar means, and the variations versus time did not indicate a modal progression. The annual analysis of the information showed a slight shift in the most frequent size intervals which is apparently related to warm years. In terms of the weight-length relationship the corresponding parameters were determined and the value of the exponent “b” seems to indicate an alometric growth.