Length-weight relationship and condition of Leiostomus xanthurus Lacepede, and Micropogon undulatus (Linnaeus) in Galveston Bay, Texas

Length-wt data on juvenile spot, L. xanthurus and Atlantic croaker, M. undulatus taken in Galveston Bay, Texas during 1963, were used to examine variations in conditions of fish between nursery areas within the bay and with size of fish, time, temp and salinity. Changes in the condition of spot were associated with habitat, size, season, and temp and in the condition of Atlantic croaker with size, season, and salinity. Because these fish were immature, gonad development was discounted as a causative factor, and it was concluded that changes in condition represented changes in body form associated with growth and fatness that are in turn associated with suitability of the environment