DSC_2855 Brook char (Salvelinus fontinalis) large spawning male. Brook char were introduced to NZ in the 1970s. Spawning fish this size are rarely seen - bright red on lower surfaces and fins and with with large ugly heads. Competition from trout has meant most brook char in NZ today are confined to marginal habitat in very small tributaries where populations comprise only small stunted fish *
11004-08404 Mackinaw (Salvelinus namaycush) were introduced to New Zealand in 1906. They are found only in Lake Pearson, in the South Island. The lake is unsuitably shallow for the mackinaw, which prefers deep lakes and cold water. In summer the warm surface waters of the lake confine the fish to the less productive deep areas, resulting in a small population of thin, stunted fish *
DSC_5896 Mackinaw (Salvelinus namaycush) were introduced to New Zealand in 1906. They are confined to one lake in the South Island. The habitat is unsuitably shallow for the mackinaw, which prefers deep lakes and cold water. Winter fishing may offer slightly improved odds of catching a fish although those caught rarely exceed 1 kg in weight and are typically in poor condition. Lake Pearson *
