Lemon sole Microstomus kitt in the northern North Sea: a multidisciplinary approach to the early life‐history dynamics

Lemon sole Microstomus kitt is a commercially valuable flatfish species that occurs in shelf waters around the northeast Atlantic. Only most basic life-history information available for North Sea. Spawning generally assumed to occur between early May and October, with peak August. larvae have been found water column northern Sea winter during standard surveys. Larvae captured November/December 2016 January/February 2017 using International Council Exploration of Seas 2 m Midwater Ring trawls (MIK) were analysed gain better understanding pelagic stages lemon sole, especially relation timing spawning dispersal overwintering larvae. Larval age was estimated from sagittal otolith primary increment counts. The caught ranged nominal 4 45 days post-hatching which suggests continues into late October November. Most, but not all, post metamorphosis, difference two sampling dates consistent elapsed time samplings. hatching confirm extends autumn Sea, all developmental stages. Drift modelling eggs released at historically documented grounds these are also source sampled 2016–2017