Age estimates of captured Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) using four calcified structures, 2017-2019

A total of 236 Black Carp were collected throughout the year from 2017-2019 by incidental captures of commercial fishers and biologists. Capture date, river basin of capture location, and coordinates were recorded for each Black Carp captured. A subsample of 119 Black Carp varying from 429-1268 millimeters total length were compared for the precision of annuli counts by two experienced readers for the ossified two anterior pectoral fin rays, the ossified anterior dorsal fin ray, sectioned vertebrae, and lapilli otoliths for selection of a single structure based on percent exact agreement, coefficient of variation, and age-frequency plots.