Age and Growth of Hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus) in Southeast Florida

Hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus) is an economically important reef fish, which has become a high interest to fisheries management due to the overwhelming evidence of overfishing. The primary objective of this study was to determine age and growth (via sagittal otoliths) of hogfish in southeast Florida, where a paucity of data exist. Hogfish were compared by region and by the three reef tracts in Broward County, Florida. Over 325 hogfish were collected from 2016-2017. Findings indicated, the maximum potential fork length increased from the Florida Keys (336mm) to southeast Florida (414mm). Additionally, hogfish growth rates were significantly different for each reef tract in Broward County. The most accessible reef tract (ca. 4-6m deep) had a signifigantly higher (p<0.001) growth rate than the outermost reef (ca. 15-25m deep). The maximum potential fork length decreased with reef tract depth (857mm, 420mm, 352mm) while the mean age (age 3, 4, 5), maximum age (age 9,10,12), and annual survival rate (42%, 65%, 73%) increased with reef depth. The results of this study provide vital base line age growth data for hogfish in the Southeast Florida region just prior to the implementation of a ten year stock recovery plan.