Comparison between a fine mesh trap net and five other fishing gears for sampling shallow‐lake fish communities in New Zealand (Note)

This paper describes the first tests of a fine mesh trap net suitable for sampling shallow‐lake fish communities in New Zealand. The catch from 2 shallow lower Waikato lakes of this and 5 other gear types frequently used in freshwater fisheries research in New Zealand are compared. The trap net caught the widest range of fish species and sizes, and was the least selective for species composition and relative abundance of any individual gear type. A combination of trap net and gill net caught the widest range of species and sizes for individual or pairwise combinations of gear types, and is recommended as being the best combination for sampling shallow‐lake fish communities in New Zealand.