FECUNDITY AND REPRODUCTIVE SEASONS OF LUT JANUS-GUTIATUS (PISCES, LUTJANIDAE) IN GOLFO-DE-NICOYA, COSTA-RICA

The reproductive cycle of the spotted snapper Lutjanus guttatus was st udied from January 1993 to January 1994 at the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa R ica. The occurrence of mature fish over a prolonged period and high go nadosomatic and condition indexes during a number of months lend addit ional evidence for a prolonged spawning season of the fish. Size at fi rst maturity was estimated as 32.0-32.9 cm total body length or TL (ma le) and 33.0-33.9 cm TL (female). Fecundity ranged from 1 363 000 (56. 9 cm TL) to 60 454 (31.9 cm TL) eggs. Gonads analysis showed asynchron ical development of the oocites with intermittent spawns.