Length-weight Relationship, Condition Factor and Sex Ratio of Forty Six Important Fishes in a Tropical Flood River

A study was conducted on the length-weight relationship, condition factor and the sex ratio of 14,466 fish representing 46 species belonging to 28 genera from 16 families of economically important freshwater fishes inhabiting the 200 km length of Cross River inlands wetlands, Nigeria. Fish samples were collected with artisanal gears (gillnets, cast nets, seine nets) during January 2006 and December, 2007. 87.5% of the species sampled had more males than females. The estimated b value (allometry coefficient) of the equation W=aL ranged between 1.92 and 3.65 with mean and mode values of 2.6 ± b 0.32 and 3 respectively. 65% of the samples had condition factor greater than the mean (0.77 ± 0.12). Fish Species of Cross River inland wetlands are therefore dominated by male populations, growth trend is mostly isometric (exhibit dimensional equality of the body parameters) and can be described as being in good condition.