Abstract

Silver perch (Bairdiella chrysoura; Family Sciaenidae) are an important component of the estuaries in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM). We collected 485 silver perch (70.0 – 171.0 mm standard length (SL)) from April 2002 through June 2003 in estuaries along the coast of Mississippi to investigate the reproductive biology of this little studied species. Estimated ages using sagittal otoliths ranged from young-of-the-year (YOY, 0 yrs) to 4 yrs. Silver perch in the north-central GOM became sexually mature at the end of their first year of life (0 yrs), with 50% sexual maturity of the population occurring in the 91 – 95 mm SL size class. Gonadosomatic index values (GSI) for females began to increase in January and peaked in April (mean GSI = 11.99). Mean male GSI values peaked in March at 1.70. Histological examination of ovarian tissue showed asynchronous oocyte development, indicating females are capable of multiple spawns during the reproductive season. Female silver perch were reproductively active for 6 months (mid January – mid July), but peak spawning occurred from March to May. Females have a spawning frequency of 1.25 days at the peak of the season, and 24% of the females sampled were capable of daily spawning, based on the presence of 24 h postovulatory follicles (POF) and hydrated oocytes in the same ovary. The high spawning frequency reported here is unusual compared to most sciaenids previously studied.

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