The channeled whelk (Busycotypus canaliculatus) is a benthic marine gastropod that supports a niche fishery in Massachusetts (USA). Typically, due to cost, sexual maturity for channeled whelks is determined macroscopically; and age is determined via the operculum. Yet, histological analysis of gonads and aging of statoliths are alternative techniques to determine reproductive stage and age, respectively. Hence, this study compared two techniques to estimate age and size-at-maturity through the analysis of 2157 (n=1406 males, 748 females) whelks. Macroscopic results showed males reached 50% sexual maturity at a smaller shell width (59.8 - 72.9 mm) than females (86.3 - 103.1 mm). Histology was used to verify size-at-maturity for sexes. Due to its location the operculum is generally used to age whelks; however, the internal calcium carbonate statolith is thought to provide a more precise age. A subset (n=40) of whelks were used to compare aging between the statolith and the operculum. The percent agreement (PA = 2.5%) between the anonymous readers was low for the statoliths, and none of the readers agreed on the age with the opercula. Since, whelk life history traits differ at small spatial scales; an accurate and time and cost-efficient method to quantify these life history traits is needed to inform best fishery management practices.