The objective of this study was to ascertain the characteristics of fish communities, the disparities in fish species captured by disparate fishing gears, and the inhabitation aspects of endangered species. Surveys were conducted at five sites, downstream of Yongdam Dam, in the Geumgang (River) from May to August 2023. Sampling was performed on two occasions using kick net, cast net, long bag stow net, and trap net. The survey yielded a total of 11 families, 35 species, and 2,010 individuals. The most prevalent species was Zacco koreanus (30.1%), followed by Pungtungia herzi (11.9%), Acheilognathus koreensis (8.6%), and Squalidus gracilis majimae (7.4%). The remaining species were represented by smaller percentages, including Pseudobagrus koreanus (6.0%). Among the species collected, endangered wildlife designated by the Ministry of Environment were P. nigra (first-grade), Gobiobotia brevibarba and C. kawamebari (second-grade). In addition, 15 Korean endemic species (42.9%) were identified, along with two ecosystem-disrupting exotic species: Micropterus salmoides and Lepomis macrochirus were observed. The fish community analysis revealed relatively low dominance (0.38–0.57) and evenness (0.66–0.78), but relatively high diversity (2.01–2.52) and richness (2.98– 3.94). The Fish Assessment Index (FAI), a metric used to evaluate stream health, ranged from 87.5 to 100.0 at each site, indicating "Very Good" (grade A). The gear-specific results indicated that the kick net collected eight families, 23 species, and 294 individuals; the cast net collected six families, 19 species, and 627 individuals; the long bag stow net collected eight families, 25 species, and 824 individuals; and the trap net collected nine families, 20 species, and 265 individuals. The long bag stow net captured the highest number of species and individuals, while the cast net recorded the lowest number of species, and the trap net captured the fewest individuals. An examination of gear-specific characteristics revealed that the cast net predominantly captured pelagic species, while the kick net was effective in collecting small benthic species. The highest abundance of species and individuals was recorded in the long bag stow net, and the trap net exhibited a high capture rate of C. kawamebari, the introduced endangered species. Among the endangered species, the Grade I P. nigra exhibited relatively stable population in its habitat, while the Grade II G. brevibarba was found in low numbers. The presence of the introduced species C. kawamebari, classified as Grade II, was observed, exhibiting a substantial population density, thus necessitating further consideration. During the survey period, some river sections experienced disturbance due to river control construction, resulting in disruption to fish habitats. The presence of invasive species such as M. salmoides and L. macrochirus has raised significant ecological concerns. To ensure the stability of fish habitats in this section, it is imperative to refrain from unregulated river construction, implement management and control measures to reduce the populations of M. salmoides and L. macrochirus, and conduct further studies to elucidate the distribution, habitat patterns, and ecological impacts of the recently introduced species C. kawamebari.