A Proposed Standard Weight Equation for Blue Suckers

Length and weight data were obtained from 46 populations of blue suckers Cycleptus elongatus (N = 8,811 fish) across the species' geographic distribution to develop a standard weight (Ws) equation. The Ws equation was derived using the empirical percentile technique applied to fish between 240 and 809 mm total length (TL). We calculated a quadratic model and a linear model to derive Ws. The proposed 75th‐percentile quadratic equation (metric units) is log10 Ws = −2.980 + 0.977 log10TL + 0.461(log10TL)2, where Ws is expressed in grams and TL is expressed in millimeters. The proposed English‐equivalent 75th‐percentile quadratic equation is log10 Ws = −3.354 + 2.273 log10TL + 0.461(log10TL)2, where Ws is expressed in pounds and TL is expressed in inches. The 75th‐percentile linear equation (metric units) is log10 Ws = −6.301 + 3.456 log10TL, and the proposed English equivalent is log10 Ws = −4.104 + 3.456 log10TL.