Abstract

In order to estimate the length at first maturity, the gonad-somatic index and the spawning season of the common Snook (Centropomus undecimalis), 247 samples was collected between April 1999 and March 2000 in the Cispata Bay, Colombia. The sizes oscillated between 28.0 and 88.0 cm in total length (TL), the total weight between 110.0 and 8,000.0 g, and the gonads weight between 0.100 and 301.00 g. The proportion of sexes males:females was of 3:1, and the gonad-somatic index was 0.111,2.107 and 1.109 formales, females and combinated sexes, respectively. The spawning season occurs from march to october, with peak activity in April. The length at first maturity estimates were 57.5, 67.8 y 62.2 cm TL for male, female and combinated sexes, respectively. Because to the common Snook is protrandic hermaphrodite and change sex from male to female, the majority of small common snooks are males and the majority of large common snooks are females.

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