Fish of the Inlet

Published records from the New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 1985 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 Pāuatahanui Inlet but from the listed species it seems likely that all of them could at least be occasional visitors.

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.

The table below lists the most common species found in Pāuatahanui Inlet. 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.

Specific Fish Species

Common Fish of the Inlet

Common Name	Scientific Name	Occurrence
Yellow-eyed mullet	Aldrichetta forsteri	Abundant resident as juvenile and adult
Sand flounder	Rhombosolea plebeia	Abundant resident as juvenile and adult
Dwarf common sole	Peltorhamphus latus	Abundant resident as juvenile and adult
Spotty	Cheilidorichthys kumu	Abundant resident as juvenile and adult (spawn)
Cockabully	Forsterygion varium	Abundant resident as juvenile and adult
Robust blenny (triplefin)	Trypterygion robustum	Abundant resident as juvenile and adult
Garfish	Hemirhamphus ihi	Abundant resident as juvenile and adult
Graham’s gudgeon	Grahamichihys radiatus	Abundant resident as juvenile and adult
Yellowbelly flounder	Rhombosolea leporina	Abundant resident as juvenile and adult (spawn)
Kahawai	Arripis trutta	Abundant resident as juvenile; adults visit at high tide
Common sole	Peltorhamphus novaezeelandiae	Abundant resident as juvenile; adults visit at high tide
Rig (Spotted smooth-hound)	Mustelus lenticulatus	Abundant resident as juvenile; adults visit in summer (spawn)
Trevally	Caranx georgianus	Abundant resident as juvenile; adults visit in summer
Red cod	Pseudophysis bacchus	Common adult visitor at high tide throughout year
Spotted stargazer	Genyagnus novaezelandiae	Common resident as juvenile
Smelt	Retropinna retropinna	Common in summer as juvenile and adults
Warehou	Seriolella brama	Common in summer as adults
Grey mullet	Mugil cephalus	Common in summer as juvenile; adults visit at high tide
Snapper	Chrysophrys auratus	Common in summer as juvenile
Elephant fish	Callorhynchus milii	Common in summer as juvenile
Anchovy	Engraulis australis	Common in summer as juvenile