Striped anchovy (Anchoa hepsetus) and sand seatrout (Cynoscion arenarius) growth and condition data collected aboard R/V Point Sur cruise PS16-20 (cruise PTS02) in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2016-04-08 to 2016-04-10

This dataset contains striped anchovy (Anchoa hepsetus) and sand seatrout (Cynoscion arenarius) growth and condition data collected aboard R/V Point Sur cruise PS16-20 (cruise PTS02) in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2016-04-08 to 2016-04-10. During a high discharge event from the Mobile Bay plume over April 8-11th, 2016, larval fish samples were collected using a Bedford Institute of Oceanography Net Environmental Sampling System (BIONESS). The BIONESS (0.25 m^2 opening) was fitted with 333-µm and 202-µm mesh nets. Ichthyoplankton samples included in this data set were collected nearshore on the coastal shelf downstream of the Mobile Bay river plume to examine how variable freshwater discharge affects larval fish distributions, growth, and morphometric condition. Within the sampling area, plume water masses were identified by salinity (≤25). The growth and morphometric condition of larval fishes (striped anchovy and sand seatrout) collected from these plume water masses were compared to conspecifics collected from nearby shelf (non-plume; >32 salinity) water masses. The dataset includes the sample collection information (date, gear number, water mass the station was located within, station locations); daily growth, recent growth, and condition data; and raw images of larval striped anchovy and sand seatrout.