Dear SS experts,
 
  
    
      I am working with
        a sex-specific length-based model for hake and have a question
        about growth.
 
  
    
      More
        specifically, the question is about the parameters that control
        the linear growth period.
  
    
      In the control
        file, I set "_Age(post-settlement)_for_L1 (Amin)" to
        0.5 and then let L1 be estimated. The model estimates L1 to be
        20.21. However, when we look at the plot (attached), the growth
        is linear up to an age beyond 0.5, and the associated length is
        not the value of 20.21 that was estimated for L1.
 
  
    
      I've read that
        Amin should be based on real age and not calendar age, but I
        believe it should be correct as it is, since in our case the
        spawning month is 1, and we have two settlements in months 1 and
        7. I understand that Amin should be set relative to the first,
        right? Then I understand that Amin at 0.5 means that the fish
        will have length L1 in July and the growth will be linear until then.
 
  
    
      Many thanks in advance,
 
  
    
      Marta Cousido Rocha