In the southeastern USA and the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), Atlantic Tripletail Lobotes surinamensis are increasingly targeted by recreational anglers, indicating that stock status should be assessed. A critical need for such assessments is age‐specific data; however, previous studies have drawn conflicting conclusions regarding the most appropriate structure for aging. Moreover, growth parameters and mortality rates for GOM Atlantic Tripletail are unknown. Therefore, the goals of this study were to (1) evaluate sagittal otoliths and first dorsal spines as aging structures; (2) model combined and sex‐specific growth; and (3) estimate mortality rates for GOM Atlantic Tripletail. From 2012 to 2019, Atlantic Tripletail (N = 230, including a near‐record‐size specimen) were collected from the north‐central GOM via hook and line and were aged using otoliths and first dorsal spines. Total length ranged from 212 to 940 mm, and age ranged from 0.07 to 5.27 years. Otoliths produced higher percent agreement (95.0%) and lower average percent error (3.0%) between readers compared to spines (82.9% and 6.5%, respectively). The von Bertalanffy growth parameters differed slightly between the otolith‐based data (mean asymptotic length [L_∞] = 762.42 mm, Brody growth rate coefficient [k] = 0.69 year⁻¹, and hypothetical age at which length equals zero [t₀] = −0.58 year) and spine‐based data (L_∞ = 718.83 mm, k = 0.79 year⁻¹, and t₀ = −0.56 year). For both otolith‐ and spine‐based sex‐specific data, the best‐fitting version of the von Bertalanffy growth function permitted L_∞ to vary by sex. Chapman–Robson estimates of instantaneous total mortality rate and total annual mortality rate were 1.15 and 68.66%, respectively. Based on empirical, life history‐based methods, the instantaneous natural mortality rate was estimated at 0.75–0.97 and the instantaneous fishing mortality rate was estimated at 0.18–0.45, suggesting low levels of exploitation. These growth parameters and mortality estimates will provide information for future stock assessments, thereby ensuring sustainability of the GOM stock of Atlantic Tripletail.

中文翻译：

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墨西哥中北部海湾大西洋三重尾的年龄，生长和死亡率

在美国东南部和墨西哥湾（GOM），休闲垂钓者越来越多地瞄准大西洋三尾龙虾surinamensis，这表明应该评估种群状况。此类评估的关键需求是特定年龄的数据；然而，先前的研究对于最合适的衰老结构得出了相互矛盾的结论。此外，GOM Atlantic Tripletail的生长参数和死亡率未知。因此，本研究的目的是（1）评估矢状耳石和第一背棘作为衰老结构；（2）结合模型和特定性别的增长；（3）估算GOM Atlantic Tripletail的死亡率。从2012年到2019年，大西洋三重尾（N 通过钩和线从北中部GOM收集了230个样本，包括接近记录的标本），并使用耳石和第一背棘进行了时效处理。总长度为212至940毫米，年龄范围为0.07至5.27岁。与棘刺（分别为82.9％和6.5％）相比，耳石在阅读器之间产生了更高的一致性百分比（95.0％）和更低的平均误差百分比（3.0％）。所述贝塔朗菲生长参数基于耳石数据平均渐近长度[之间（略有不同大号_∞ ] =762.42毫米，布罗迪增速系数[ ķ ] =0.69年^-1，和假设年龄在该长度等于零[吨₀ ] = -0.58年）和基于脊柱数据（大号_∞ = 718.83毫米，k  = ₀  . 79年^-1，t ₀ = - ₀ .56年）。对于这两种otolith-和脊柱基于性别的具体数据时，贝塔朗菲增长函数的最佳拟合版本允许大号_∞因性别而异。Chapman-Robson估计的瞬时总死亡率和年度总死亡率分别为1.15和68.66％。根据基于生活史的经验方法，瞬时自然死亡率估计为0.75-0.97，瞬时捕捞死亡率估计为0.18-0.45，这表明剥削水平较低。这些增长参数和死亡率估计将为将来的种群评估提供信息，从而确保Atlantic Tripletail的GOM种群具有可持续性。