Aspects of Scomberomorus sierra fishery from the coast of Colima, México

During 2003 data and samples on the fishery and the biology of Scomberomorus sierra (Perciformes: Scombridae) were collected. This fishery has two periods of maximum catch in the coast of Colima: from January to April and from November to December. Monthly captures are from 2 kg (45 kg average ±63 std.d.) to 1 340 kg (190 kg average ±219 std.d.). Catch per unit of effort is between one and 14 kg per trip during autumn and winter, plus other 37 commercial species that were captured incidentally. First length of capture of S. sierra was l50 = 48 cm, which corresponds to an age of three years. Total mortality was z = 0.7660, natural mortality was m = 0.1997 and fishing mortality f = 0.5663. Survival rate was s = 0.4649; exploitation rate was e = 0.739, which is a high value for a healthy fishery. Yield per recruit was y/r = 0.694 grams. Increasing the age of first capture to 5.5 years could allow an increment of effort four times, which would result in a higher capture without negative consequences to the stock.