Reproductive period of the chihuil sea catfish <i>Bagre panamensis</i> (Siluriformes: Ariidae) inhabiting the southeast Gulf of California

Abstract

Chihuil sea catfish Bagre panamensis is a fishing resource exploited throughout the year and without restrictions on the central coast of the Mexican Pacific. In order to properly manage the commercial fishery of some resource, it is important to know aspects of its biology such as reproduction. In the present study, the reproduction period was estimated through the gonadosomatic index (GSI), hepatosomatic index (HSI) and the condition factor of B. panamensis. Samples were obtained monthly between November 2015 and October 2016 of commercial fishing from San Blas area. A total of 346 specimens were collected, which 182 were females and 164 males. The sizes (total length and weight) found did not show differences between genders. Sex ratio was not different from 1:1 for the total of the samples. The weight-length relationship showed that both sexes presented a positive allometric growth type. According to the gonadosomatic (GSI) and hepatosomatic index (HSI), this specie has a breeding period per year, which runs from May to August. Based on these results, a management strategy for this fishery could be proposed in the southeastern Gulf of California.