Distribution, abundance, and age and growth of the Tomtate, Haemulon aurolineatum, along the southeastern United States coast

Tomtates, Haemulon aurolineatum, were widely distributed over sponge-coral habitats throughout the South Atlantic Bight region in depths of 9 to 55 m, although they were occasionally caught in large numbers over sandy bottom habitats. Fish were most common in offshore areas during winter and were not taken in waters of <lOoC south of Cape Fear, N.C. Juveniles (:5148 mm TL) were caught in the same geographical areas as adults, but were collected in warmer waters than adults during fall and winter. Spawning occurred during the spring. Individuals collected by hook and line and trawl were aged by scales and otoliths. Back-calculated mean total lengths were from 103.0 mm at age I, to 280.5 at age IX. The von Bertalanffy growth equation is I, =310 (1- exp - 0.22017 (t +1.28», where t is age in years, and I, is total length at age. The oldest fish sampled was age IX, 289 mm TL. Annual total mortality based on catch curves from 1,496 fish landed by the recreational fishery from 1972 to 1978 was 59% (instantaneous total annual mortality = 0.89). We found that the tomtate grows faster, does not live as long, and has a higher natural mortality rate than most other reef fishes previously studied in the South Atlantic Bight.