Reproductive Biology of Carangids Occurring Along the Indian Coast: A Brief Review

Abstract

The present article attempted to review the reproductive biology of fishes belonging to the Carangidae family from Indian waters. Carangids, commonly known as jacks, trevallies, scads, queen fishes, runners, amberjacks and pompanos, constitute one of the most commercially important food fishes in our country. The family is represented by 62 species and 21 genera. They are well distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. Reports indicate that carangids from Indian waters reach maturity at 113-270 mm TL. Sexual maturation evidently occurs at a slightly smaller size in males than females. In some species females outnumbered males, while in some species males dominated the commercial catches. Carangids are moderately fecund. GSI and ova-diameter studies show that most of the carangids are multiple spawners, spawning at least twice or thrice in an extended 
spawning season. Peak spawning in most carangids occurs during March-May prior to the southwest monsoon along the West coast and September- November prior to the southeast monsoon along the East coast.