Mechanical fish trap

A mechanical fish trap system, comprising:

• a trap chamber having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the outlet is downstream of the inlet;
• a trap gate mounted in the outlet, the trap gate having a shape that gradually reduces in diameter from a first end at the outlet toward a second end directed toward the inlet;
• a water pipe connected to the trap chamber and having an intake end and a trap end, wherein the trap end is downstream of the intake end;
• a water pump mounted in line with the water pipe, upstream from the trap end, to pump water from the intake end to the trap end and into and through the trap chamber;
• and
• a screen mounted inside of the trap chamber between the inlet and the trap gate, wherein the screen allows water flow therethrough and into an inside of the trap chamber but to block a fish from passing therethrough;
• wherein the trap gate allows water to flow therethrough, out of the trap chamber into a first native water environment, and also allows the fish to swim into the trap chamber to be retained therein;
• and
• further wherein the water pipe intake end is placed in a second native water environment, and the water in the second native water environment is imbalanced with the water in the first native water environment, establishing a water imbalance adapted to draw the fish instinctively thereto.