The abundance and size composition of trawled juvenile snapper Chrysophrys unicolor (Quoy and Gaimard) from Cockburn Sound, Western Australia

Abstract

The abundance and size composition of juvenile snapper Chrysophrys unicolor trawled from Cockburn Sound, W.A., over a 20 month period is presented. 0+ year old snapper were first taken by the gear in April/May at a mean size of between 8 and 9 cm L.C.F. They continued to be caught until the following January/February when they were 1+ years old, and a mean size of between 14 and 15 cm L.C.F., after which they disappeared from the catch.

The peak months of abundance were April/May. This is the first description of growth of juvenile snapper from Western Australia.