Food of predatory demersal fish in Hauraki Gulf

Abstract

Feeding was examined in five species of fish associated with snapper Chrysophrys auratus (Forster) trawled from Hauraki Gulf and north‐west Bay of Plenty: trevally Caranx lutescens Richardson, red gurnard Chelidonichthys kumu Lesson and Garnot, horse mackerel Trachurus novaezelandiae Richardson, eagle ray Holorhinus tenuicaudatus (Hector), and john dory Zeus japnnicus Cuvier and Valenciennes. All five species feed on some elements of the bottom fauna; in general, crustaceans were the most important food group.