A Comparison of Three Paired Modified Fyke Nets for Characterizing Fish Assemblages in the Nearshore Zone of Lake Michigan

Abstract

AbstractWe performed a gear comparison between three types of paired fyke nets used to monitor fish communities in the nearshore zone of Lake Michigan. Our objective was to identify a single net design that would maximize species diversity and catch. The three types of paired fyke nets included a small frame model with 3‐mm bar mesh (Mini‐fyke), a larger‐framed model with 13‐mm mesh (Fyke), and a large frame model with 13‐mm mesh recommended by the American Fisheries Society (AFS‐fyke). We set all three gear types in triplicate on similar nearshore littoral habitat at 16 sites in Green Bay, an embayment of Lake Michigan. Total catch was dominated by Gizzard Shad Dorosoma cepedianum, Round Goby Neogobius melanostomus, Spottail Shiner Notropis hudsonius, Trout‐perch Percopsis omiscomaycus, and Yellow Perch Perca flavescens, which represented 99.3% of all individuals captured. We found that Mini‐fyke nets selected for smaller individuals, caught relatively few species, and had the highest catch per unit effort; this was largely driven by high catches of Spottail Shiner and Gizzard Shad. Fyke nets captured the largest individuals, had the lowest catch per unit effort, and the greatest diversity of species. Results for AFS‐fyke nets were typically intermediate between Mini‐fyke and Fyke nets for most parameters. Species accumulation curves indicated that Fyke nets acquired more total species at a higher rate than the other two net types. Given the need to balance effort, gear bias, and sampling efficiency, we found that AFS‐fyke nets recommended by the AFS effectively characterized the nearshore fish community of lower Green Bay, especially if used in conjunction with complementary sampling gears.Received November 28, 2016; accepted May 25, 2017Published online August 4, 2017