Whole otoliths of Beryx splendens showed multiple opaque and hyaline zones when observed by transmitted light. SEM studies of whole otoliths showed regular surface sculpturing with widths similar to the widths observed between opaque zones. Optical and etched (SEM) sections of otoliths showed a continuous series of microincrements from the nucleus to the edge of the otolith along the longest prism of the otolith from the nucleus to the dorsal edge axis. Microincrements typically progressed from wide microincrements near the nucleus to narrow microincrements towards the edge of the otolith. A general length-at-age curve was generated by plotting microincrement width against the length of the prism. Growth curves based on microincrement widths indicated similar growth rates (over equivalent size ranges) to those derived from previously published tagging studies. Microincrement growth patterns in the otolith show periodic changes in optical density (and etch-sensitivity) that are generally equivalent to the checks observed in otoliths of other species. Checks caused by cessation of growth could be distinguished from local perturbations in microincrement deposition, and their effect on age estimation errors could be assessed. Microincrement width-based growth curves showed high and variable growth rates in younger fishes, and lower and less variable growth rates in older fishes. Growth curves based on other ageing techniques, and the length-at-age distribution patterns based on different growth curves were compared.