Large copepods as leading indicators of walleye pollock recruitment in the southeastern Bering Sea: Sample-Based and spatio-temporal model (VAST) results

•Calanus, Metridia and Neocalanus copepods were sampled during pollock age-0 year.•Strong correlation between lipid-rich copepods and pollock abundance 3 years later.•Higher correlation to age-3 pollock with model than sample-based copepod indices.•Age-3 pollock indices significantly related to cold pool area (age-0 year).