Abstract

The bycatch of undersized fish less than 508 mm total length or fish discarded by fishermen as undersize grouper (gag, Mycteroperca microlepis and red grouper, Epinephelus morio) was established as a percentage of the daily grouper catch from the commercial hook-and-line fishery off northwest Florida in April and July, 1996. The proportion of undersized grouper catch ranged from 7.9 to 76.1% (overall total 35.7% and mean daily 28.0%) in April and from 40.9 to 87.2% (overall total 62.2% and mean daily 63.2%) in July. The undersized grouper size and age ranges were for gag, 391 to 520 mm total length (2 to 4 years of age) and for red grouper, 381 to 485 mm total length (4 to 7 years of age). Reproductive condition of the undersized grouper was 100% immature female for gag, and 63.5% immature female, 23.1% spawning female, 3.8% immature male, 5.8% spawning male, and 5.8% unknown for red grouper.

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