| Over 2 years in a temperate climate and over 12 inches is probably a safe bet. However, I am not sure they are good breeders when that young. Maybe its my imagination, but they seem to be over-anxious at that age/size, do not take their time to get into position and do not have the weight to give the female a good bump. It takes some timing and coordination to synchronize the release of eggs and milt. They sort of remind me of myself at that point in life.
Here, males have milt for most of the year. My recollection is that you can only find it in spring and summer on the East Coast. I believe the gonads begin developing in the fall, go into a holding pattern for the winter, and finish development in the spring.
-steve hopkins |