Electrofishing is an efficient, frequently used method to sample freshwater fishes in littoral areas of aquatic systems. Fish exposed to electroshock may experience adverse effects such as physiological and behavioral changes, and physical injury. The effect of electrofishing on catch efficiency and injury to fish has been well studied by fish biologists. However, the majority of electrofishing research has focused on salmonids or other coolwater species. Little attention has been given to the incidence of injury in warmwater communities. Also, many studies were not adequate because data collection was designed for other purposes, and comparisons are difficult due to differing gears, techniques, environmental conditions, and fish species. The objectives of this study include the determination of the extent of injuries in warmwater fishes, and the identification of electrofishing procedures that will result in efficient sampling but minimal injury to fish. Experimentation will be performed on bluegill Lepomis macrochirus, channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, and largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, fish often targeted with electrofishing. As electrofishing is common practice among those involved in fisheries research, the results of this study will be applicable nationwide. We report findings obtained during the first six months of our research.