Centrarchid harvest was compared to gross photosynthesis in a small desert impoundment. Average annual gross photosynthesis for benthic plants and plankton was equal to 14,100 pounds per acre (1.6 kg/m2) of oxygen or primary photosynthate over a 3-year period. Average annual harvest of centrarchids (largemouth bass and black crappie) was 138 pounds per acre live weight, which is equal to 0.98 percent of gross photosynthesis. Considered as dry biomass, centrarchid harvest equaled 0.15 percent of gross photosynthesis. When examined with regard to degree of habitat exploitation by centrarchids, fishing intensity, population turnover, competition from other fish, and cycles of recruitment, harvest of centrarchids was judged to be near the potential maximum. By the same standards, however, channel catfish production and harvest were judged to be considerably lower than what might be achieved with more effective recruitment and fishing. For the foregoing reason the relation between total fish harvest (channel catfish plus centrarchids) and gross photosynthesis was not considered to be valid for making total harvest predictions based on knowledge of gross photosynthesis. Possible effects on interpretation of gross photosynthesis of photic depth, organic import, dominant producer of plants, and deferred entry of plant forage into the food chain are discussed. Precision of estimate of major elements used in computing the harvest/photosynthesis ratio is also considered.