The gonad maturity development and spawning season of orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) at Kwandang Bay, Gorontalo Province, Indonesia

Biological information of E. coioides in Kwandang Bay has been studied to formulate responsible management policies. A quantitative descriptive analysis based on a change in the percentage of fish maturity stage and gonadosomatic index of E. coioides population every month were performed. A total of 141 fish was collected for analysis of gonad development, which of 40 individuals among them was randomly prepared for histology analysis. Generally E. coioides caught in the Kwandang Bay was ripe and spawn stage category. The average size at sexes change of E. coioides was 79 cm in length and 6,500 g in weight. The peak spawning season of E. coioides is in the period of May to July which coincides with the dry season. Management strategies proposed is the temporary stopping the capture of the fish in the peak of spawning season of the species.