We examine factors influencing timing of arrival of capelin at spawning sites.

Intrinsic factors: length, age, spawning experience.

Extrinsic proxies: diet (stable isotopes), environmental conditions (otolith chemistry).

Intrinsic factors varied with timing of arrival but proxies of extrinsic factors did not.

Older, larger male and female capelin arrived at spawning sites first.

Fishing selectivity for early-arriving capelin may impact age/size structure.