Management Briefs: Field Evaluations of 230-V AC Electrofishing on Mortality and Growth of Warmwater and Coolwater Fish

Abstract

Abstract Effects of electrofishing on mortality of eight species of fish and on the growth of two species of fish were evaluated under field conditions. The electrofishing gear had an output of 230-V, three-phase AC, and 2–7 A. Captured fish held in live-cages or a pond experienced little or no mortality over 1–40 d. Tag recapture data for largemouth bass and walleyes indicate survival and growth after 1–2 years were no different for fish captured by electrofishing than for fish captured by trap nets or angling. I conclude that 230-V AC electrofishing can be a practical method to capture many warmwater and coolwater species for mark-recapture studies in lakes with alkalinities of 26-144 mg/L (conductivities of 66–520 μS/cm). Output amperage should be regulated so that fish are only briefly stunned.