Distribution, Age and Growth, and Sexual Maturity of Witch Flounder ( Glyptocephalus cynoglossus ) in Newfoundland Waters

• Published in: Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
• Main Author: Bowering, W. R.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1976
• Subjects: Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f76-198; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f76-198

Witch flounder (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus) were caught from the Hawke Channel to the southern edge of the Grand Bank and west to the Scotian Shelf and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Although the largest catches were taken at 2–6 C and 185–370 m, witch flounder were found at temperatures ranging from −1 to 10 C and depths of 20–870 m. Witch flounder of the Northeast Newfoundland Shelf were largest and those of the Gulf of St. Lawrence smallest at comparable ages, with growth rates for the east coast of Newfoundland being faster than most other areas. Age and length at 50% sexual maturity ranged from 4.20 to 5.59 yr and 25 to 30 cm for males, and from 8.42 to 10.21 yr and 40 to 50 cm for females.