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Fish
The Inlet » Natural History » Fish
Fish
This page is a general introduction to the fish of the Pauatahanui Inlet. You can also read about specific species as follows:
Published records (see Reference box below) show that 46 species of fish have been recorded in the waters of Porirua Harbour as a whole. We don’t know exactly how many of these were present in the Pauatahanui Inlet but from the listed species it seems likely that all of them could at least occasionally visit the Inlet. Seven of these species – lamprey, brown trout, two eels and three species of whitebait are principally freshwater fish that transit through the Inlet on their way to or from spawning grounds.
At least 14 species are resident in the Inlet throughout the year, though only nine get to adulthood in the Inlet. The others return to the sea to mature. Nine species are usually present in large numbers (abundant) and 12 are plentiful (common), though not all the common species are present throughout the year. Only three species are known for certain to spawn in the Inlet but clearly it is an important nursery area for many species.
The most abundant species are probably the Sand flounder and Yellow-eyed mullet. The large number of species of flatfish (four soles and flounders) indicate that there is a diversity of suitable habitats for flatfish in the Inlet.
Common name
Yellow-eyed mullet (herring) Sand flounder Dwarf common sole Spotty Cockabully Robust blenny Garfish Graham's gudgeon Yellowbelly flounder Kahawai Common sole Rig (Spotted smooth-hound) Trevally Red cod Spotted stargazer Smelt Warehou Grey mullet Snapper Elephant fish Anchovy
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Occurrence
Abundant resident as juvenile and adult Abundant resident as juvenile and adult Abundant resident as juvenile and adult Abundant resident as juvenile and adult (spawn) Abundant resident as juvenile and adult Abundant resident as juvenile and adult Common resident as juvenile and adult Common resident as juvenile and adult Common resident as juvenile and adult (spawn) Abundant resident as juvenile; adults visit at high tide Common resident as juvenile; adults visit at high tide Abundant resident as juvenile; adults visit in summer (spawn) Abundant resident as juvenile; adults visit in summer Common adult visitor at high tide through year Common resident as juvenile Common in summer as juvenile and adults Common in summer as adults Common in summer as juvenile; adults visit at high tide Common in summer as juvenile Common in summer as juvenile Common in summer as juvenile |
Recreational fishing rulesRecreational fishing in the Inlet is governed by the Central Fishery Management Area Recreational Fishing Rules (Ministry for Primary Industries), which stipulate the daily bag limits for each species of finfish, restrictions on fishing methods and the allowable daily take of shellfish. |
References and further reading
Francis, M.P., Morrison, M.A., Leathwick, J. and Walsh, C. (2011) Predicting patterns of richness, occurrence and abundance of small fish in New Zealand estuaries. Marine and Freshwater Research, vol. 62: 1327-1341.
Healy, W.B. (1980) Pauatahanui Inlet — an environmental study. DSIR information Series 141. NZ Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. (This book is out of print but is available at public libraries.)
Jones, J.B. and Hadfield, J.D. (1985) Fishes from Porirua Harbour and Pauatahanui Inlets: occurrence in gill nets. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, vol. 19: 477-484. See also: |