Length weight relationship of cobia, <i>Rachycentron canadum</i> from hook and line fishery at Gulf of Mannar region, South East Coast of India.

Abstract

Length weight relationship of <i>Rachycentron canadum</i> landed by hook and line fishery in Gulf of Mannar coast during February 2010 to March 2012 was estimated. A total of 330 fishes were examined from hook and line fishery consisting of 130 males and 170 females. Total Length (TL) for males ranged between 53 and 144 cm with a mean length of 98.12 ±22.87 cm, and the weight ranged from 1 to 31 kg with a mean of 11.15±7.73kg. In the case of female the Total length observed was between 43 and 148.1 cm with a mean length of 95.84±24.11 cm and the weight observed was between 0.25 to 35.2 kg with a mean weight of 10.37 ± 8.38 kg. This present study suggests that the values of the slope b were 3.12 and 3.36 for male and female cobia respectively which showed positive allometric growth rate (b>3), suggesting that they are fast growing fishes.