Summary The objective of this study was to analyze the morphometry of otoliths for Sciades proops juveniles by testing the hypothesis of equality in morphometric relationships for the right and left otoliths, which could then be interchangeably used to estimate fish size or weight. Samples were obtained monthly directly from anglers after each event that took place off the state of Sergipe from March/2014 to April/2015. Anglers used rod and reel during these events, with no restriction on hook size or line thickness. Each fish specimen sampled had their total weight (W, g) and total length (TL, cm) measured and their lapillus otoliths removed and stored separately. Each otolith had its length (OL), width (OWi), and thickness (OT) measured (all in mm) under a stereomicroscope. Otoliths were weighed using a precision scale (OW, g). A total of 883 specimens were sampled: TL = 12.0–60.5 cm and W = 9.8–1880 g. The weight‐length relationship for the juvenile fishes was W = 0.0052TL3.086 and for their otoliths was OW = 0.0002OL3.177. The weight‐length and length‐length relationships fitted for each otolith (right and left) were not statistically different and thus all relations were estimated for grouped otoliths. The length‐length relationships for the otoliths were: OWi = 0.947OL−0.205 and OT = O.484OL−0.698. The relationship estimated for juvenile fish and otolith weight was Wj = 1076.1OW−9.120. For juvenile fish total length and otolith length, width and thickness, the following relationships were estimated: TLj = 4.028OL−3.199, TLj = 4.208OWi−2.091, and TLj = 7.824OT + 3.659, respectively. Relationships between fish and otolith size, and between fish and otolith weight indicated a change in slope close to Lm50, which should be better explored when more adult specimens are available.

This study aimed at identifying the species caught in competitive fishing events and to analyze the profile of recreational fishers in Sergipe. Sampling took place during nine rounds of the XXI Campeonato Sergipano de Pesca da ASPA-BV in 2014. Sampled fishes were identified, measured, weighed, and had their sex and maturation stage identified. A total of 2,794 fishes (449 kg) were caught, from which 61.7% were sampled. The most commonly caught species were Sciades proops, Menticirrhus littoralis, and Polydactylus virginicus. The minimum catch size (TLmin) was set at 15 cm. At this size, many specimens of these three species were immature and thus we suggest an increase of the minimum size to 20 cm. A questionnaire was used to describe the profile of local anglers. All recreational fishers interviewed (75) were males, 16-64 years old and mainly with monthly mean income of 6-10 minimum wages. All surveyed anglers go fishing in coastal and estuarine regions, 52 in fresh waters and 40 in oceanic areas. The main target species cited by respondents, which are also caught, were mojarra, snook, jacks, and mackerels, and the main baits used were Litopenaeus vannamei, Mugil spp., and Clupeiformes.

The objective of this study was to describe the morphology and morphometry of saggitta otoliths of Polydactylus virginicus, Menticirrhus cuiaranensis and Conodon nobilis in a tropical environment. Fishes were caught with rod and reel in competitive fishing events promoted in 2014-2015 along the coast of Sergipe. A total of 174 pairs of sagitta otoliths of P. virginicus, 181 of M. cuiaranensis and 77 of C. nobilis was extracted. In general, the sagitta otoliths of all three species analyzed here presented different morphology and shape indices. The permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) demonstrated significant differences among species and ontogenetic phases within each species using morphometry and shape indices. The linear discriminant analysis (LDA) presented a 98.3% correct reclassification of the otoliths by species.