Age and Growth of Black Drum in Louisiana Waters of the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Morphometric measurements and otoliths (sagittae) were collected from black drums Pogonias cromis caught in estuarine and coastal waters off Louisiana. Transverse sections of otoliths had distinct opaque zones that were validated as annual for age determination. One annulus was formed per year during winter and early spring months in all age-classes during each of four years of sampling. There was low variability in age estimates made independently by three readers. Maximum age observed was 43 years. Von Bertalanffy growth models did not describe growth well for all age-classes, perhaps due to an extreme decrease in growth rate at about 4 years of age and continuous, nonasymptotic growth thereafter.