Fishery of Gerres cinereus in Central Mexican Pacific coast

From April 2010 to November 2011 data on the biology and the fishery of Gerres cinereus (Teleostei: Gerreidae) were collected in the coasts of Colima and Jalisco, in order to help manage its fishery. Although with variations, total catches have increased in the last fifteen years. The highest catches in Colima are obtained during summer (1.9 tons) and in Jalisco during winter and spring (12.2 tons). Age and length of first capture was 1.9 years and 23.8 cm in Colima and 2.3 years and 26.2 cm in Jalisco. Total mortality was z = 2.44 in Colima and z = 0.910 in Jalisco. Natural mortality was M = 0.218 in both cases. Fishing mortality was f = 2.222 in Colima and f = 0.692 in Jalisco; survival rate was s = 0.087 for Colima and s = 0.403 for Jalisco. Exploitation rate was e = 0.911 in Colima and e = 0.760 in Jalisco. Yield per recruit was y/r = 260.7 g in Colima and y/r = 315.9 g in Jalisco. Increasing the age of first capture to four years will get a y/r = 383.2 g for Colima and a y/r = 389.0 g for Jalisco. We suggest that the gear’s mesh size should be increased to catch bigger and older individuals.