Age and growth of the Pacific goliath grouper (Epinephelus quinquefasciatus), the largest bony reef fish of the Tropical Eastern Pacific

Abstract

We examined the age and growth of the Pacific goliath grouper (Epinephelus quinquefasciatus) from 210 samples collected from the main fish markets in Panama and Colombia. Ages from otoliths ranged from young-of-the-year to 13 years, predominantly between 1 and 4 years. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were L∞ = 207 cm, k = 0.13 year−1 and t0 = −1.87 years. Instantaneous mortality rates (Z) were estimated at 36% in Colombia (ages 2–11) and 26% in Panama (ages 2–13).