Some aspects of the biology of 'Ghol' Pseudosciaena diacanthus (Lacepede)

Sciaenids popularly called 'croakers', 'Drums', 'Jewfish', and 'Whitings', contribute; \nsubstantially to the fisheries of India. Sciaenids form about 6% of the total annual marine \nfish catch of the country. About 30% of the landings of the trawlers at Bombay is composed \nof Sciaenids. Pseudosciaena diacanthus (ghol), Otolithoides brunneus (Koth), Otolithus ruber, Otolithus \nargenteus, Pseudosciaena sina, Johnius dussumieri are the important species contributing to the sciaenid \nfishery besides other species of lesser importance. Smaller sciaenids, mostly Johnius spp., \nand Otolithus spp., locally called 'Dhoma' constitute the bulk of the catches of the trawlers \n(20-23%) ** Bombay. Pseudosciaena diacanthus locally called 'ghol', ranks first as a commercially \nvery important offshore sciaenid, forming 5 to 8% of the trawler catches.