Category Archives: Fish

Sharpnose mullet

Sharpnose Mullet
I’ve seen this shoal of sharpnose mullets several times, always in the same area. They hang out where a ledge borders deeper water. On this day, breaking surf washed them back and forth over the ledge, along with an assortment of other fish and me if I’m not careful. It’s important to pay attention in these situations as it would be easy to end up in too shallow water and get raked over the coral – not good for it or me. When I got out of the water I met a friend who understood that. He’d had that happen to him just a few days earlier.

In my attempts to identify what I see in the water, I use John P. Hoover’s book The Ultimate Guide to Hawaiian Reef Fishes, Sea Turtles, Dolphins, Whales, and Seals. His website is hawaiisfishes.com.

Whitemouth moray eel

Whitemouth Moray Eel

You know how it is with some people? As soon as they open their mouths, you know who they are. The same is true with the whitemouth moray eel. This one is in a fairly typical position, wedged into a crevice with its bright white mouth open. They can look menacing with the head out and mouth opening and closing, but all they’re doing is pumping water over their gills, which is how they breathe.

In my attempts to identify what I see in the water, I use John P. Hoover’s book The Ultimate Guide to Hawaiian Reef Fishes, Sea Turtles, Dolphins, Whales, and Seals and his Reef Fish Hawaii – waterproof pocket guide. His website is hawaiisfishes.com.

Moody black triggerfish

Black Triggerfish

The black triggerfish is a common reef fish, not shy about showing how it feels. The top photo shows its usual color, a dark body with bright, pale blue lines along the base of its dorsal and anal fins.

When it gets wound up like the one on the left, bright blue lines appear between the eyes. The more agitated it becomes, the more the blue expands. The one below is clearly not at all happy. I know when I’m not wanted.

In my attempts to identify what I see in the water, I use John P. Hoover’s book The Ultimate Guide to Hawaiian Reef Fishes, Sea Turtles, Dolphins, Whales, and Seals. His website is hawaiisfishes.com.

Moorish idol

Moorish Idol

The Moorish idol is one of the easiest fish to identify. Striking colors, striking shape, and no other fish quite like it. This one not only hung around while I was there, but obligingly slid into a patch of sunlight.

In my attempts to identify what I see in the water, I use John P. Hoover’s book The Ultimate Guide to Hawaiian Reef Fishes, Sea Turtles, Dolphins, Whales, and Seals. His website is hawaiisfishes.com.

Now you see me, now you don’t

Flowery Flounder

This is a flowery flounder. What do you mean, where? It’s right there, on that rock. Truth is, if you don’t see a flounder moving, then you’re not likely to see it at all. This one was in a shallow area, hopping from rock to rock, in dappled sunlight.

A couple of times I took my eye off it and it took a while to relocate it, even though I knew where it was. Look up for too long and it will flit to a different spot. Good luck finding it them.

I particularly liked it when this fish bent itself over a little ledge in the rock (below). Not just a flatfish then, but a bendy one, too.

In my attempts to identify what I see in the water, I use John P. Hoover’s book The Ultimate Guide to Hawaiian Reef Fishes, Sea Turtles, Dolphins, Whales, and Seals. His website is hawaiisfishes.com.

Flowery Flounder

Spotted eagle ray

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I’ve seen this particular ray several times while snorkeling. I think it’s a young one, since it’s somewhat smaller than others I’ve seen. It glides over the coral with little effort, but sometimes shifts into high gear and shoots off with a good turn of speed. It’s not aggressive and doesn’t appear bothered by my presence, but since eagle rays have venomous spines near the base of the tail, I don’t get too close.

For more information about eagle rays, go to sailhawaii.com/rays.html.

Pinktail triggerfish

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A couple of shots of pinktail triggerfish. They’re common in the waters around here, but always quite striking with their pink tail and delicate looking dorsal and anal fins. I can’t look at the one on the right without hearing that fish say, ‘He said what? I don’t believe it.”
In my attempts to identify what I see in the water, I use John P. Hoover’s book The Ultimate Guide to Hawaiian Reef Fishes, Sea Turtles, Dolphins, Whales, and Seals and his Reef Fish Hawaii – waterproof pocket guide. His website is hawaiisfishes.com.