Sexual maturity is attained at 5 years for males, at a length of around 80 cm and 5 or 6 years for females when they are between 90 and 100 cm in length. The spawning period runs from March to July and the eggs and larvae are pelagic. Each female may carry 20 to 60 million eggs.
The process of becoming sexually mature occurs at different times for males and females, with males reaching it at around 5 years and a length of about 80 cm, while females take 5 or 6 years to reach maturity, typically between 90 and 100 cm in length. The reproductive cycle takes place from March to July, and the eggs and larvae drift freely in the ocean. A single female can produce an enormous number of eggs, estimated to be between 20 and 60 million.