Early life history of Japanese whiting Sillago japonica occurring in the surf zone of sandy beaches, Tateyama Bay, central Japan

The seasonal occurrence and abundance, changes of feeding habits and development of digestive tract were examined on the larvae and juveniles of the Japanese whiting Sillago japonica. The fish were collected from both offshore, ca. 100 m off the shoreline at the depth of <1 m, and from the shoreline areas in the sandy beaches surf zone of Tatevama Bay in the period from April 1999 to March 2001. The Japanese whiting occurred mainly from July to September and was much more abundant in the offshore area than in the shoreline area, 14,106 vs 302 individuals. However, no difference was detected on the SL, mean+/-SD 12.9+/-4.3 mm in the offshore vs 13.2+/-6.8 mm in the shoreline area in 1999. The main food was calanoid copepods in the fish smaller than 14.0 mm SL, and polychaeta larvae and Mysis were added at 14.0 mm and 17.0 mm SL, respectively. The surf zone, especially the offshore area, was considered to be an important nursery area for the larvae and juveniles of the Japanese whiting.