Life-history parameters of adult females of Merluccius capensis (Gadidae) off the south coast of South Africa.

This study explores the life-history parameters of female Merluccius capensis off South Africa (N = 1819) during 2014-2016, including gonadosomatic index (GSI), length-at-maturity, length-weight relationships, and condition indices (relative condition [k] and Fulton's condition factor [K]). We detected weak indications of two peaks of spawning within the year, the first in austral autumn from March to May, whereas the other in austral spring around August. GSI was slightly higher in spring and autumn, though still low at all maturity stages (≤7%), though the opposite was true for the actively spawning stage (≥7%) as well as access to less such data during winter- and summertime.