The surge zone is the area above shallow reefs near shore, where incoming swells churn up the water. It’s home to a variety of fish including chubs and flagtails, the turbulent, bubbling water acting as a screen from predators.
Chubs will venture out a ways during the day, but flagtails only emerge at night to feed on plankton.
Graham's Island 
Wow. Are we mostly seeing chubs, here, then? What a nice way to spend some time; just bobbing in the swirl. It must be like wave pools are for us.
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The chubs are the bigger fish, the flagtails the more numerous fish farther into the shallows.
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I love the photo Graham. Another print worthy photo.
Go you get buffeted around much in the surge zone?
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Thanks Brian. There wasn’t much swell on this day so could could get closer in the shallow water without much risk. When there’s more swell, the chances of getting tumbled around increase greatly.
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