Abstract: Sample size plays a significant role in determining accuracy and precision for estimates of fish population dynamics or fish communities. A fisheries survey that estimated the fish community in Dianshan Lake was conducted as a case study to determine the necessary sample size for such estimates. Monthly surveys of 24 survey stations in Dianshan Lake were conducted from July, 2010 to June, 2011, resulting in the collection of 45 fish species from 14 families. A resampling technique was used to estimate the optimal survey times and number of survey stations for a Dianshan Lake fishery survey. Results showed a negative relationship between the number of stations per survey and survey times per year. To maintain a 90% fixed percentage of fish species detection and 95% fixed probability of detection within the fishery survey, the required sample sizes were 19 and 21 stations per survey and 12 and 11 survey times per year, correspondingly. The Shannon diversity index increased with the number of stations before reaching equilibrium, therefore, the optimal survey stations for estimating fish biodiversity of the Dianshan Lake fishery was determined to be 21 stations. This study provided a framework for determining the optimal sampling effort in similar studies at other locations.