Comparative boat electrofishing surveys of Lake Waahi in 2007 and 2011

Abstract

We conducted boat electrofishing surveys of Lake Waahi, which is located to the west of Huntly and flows into the Waikato River. The purpose of this was to repeat surveys that took place on 7 March 2007 and 26 March 2011 concerning the density and distribution pattern fish species within the lake. Due to wind and possibly low water clarity, catch rates were lower in 2011 than those found in 2007 as we only caught 108 fish in 2011 compared to 493 in 2007. Species composition included three native species and five introduced species. Native species caught were common smelt, common bully and shortfin eel and introduced species were perch, rudd, goldfish, catfish and koi carp, gambusia were also sighted but not captured.