This fish is a gray chub, so why is it yellow? That’s a question with no good answer. Locals used to think that yellow-colored chubs were ‘queens’ of their schools, but there’s no evidence to support that. Instead, it’s regarded as simply a color variation, seen in a few fish, that is without significance. This is the first one of these I’ve seen.

Gray chubs’ usual coloration can be seen in the photo below.

These are probably gray chubs, but might also be brassy chubs, or even a mixture of both. The two species look similar and are found in similar locations, in the surge zone. I like to find a safe spot, just outside this zone, and watch the swells roiling in and see chubs and other fish swish back and forth with the swell.

Chubs are quite common and they aren’t shy. They’ll pass quite close, often with a cheerful, engaging look, which makes them a fun fish to encounter.

A small group of brassy chubs catches the sun as it pootles about just below the water’s surface,

The bicolor chub’s distinguishing feature is that its rear third or half is dark. Sometimes, as with this one, the head turns dark and sometimes the back also, so only the belly is light.

I watched a small shoal of gray chubs going back and forth in shallow water and was pleased to get a photo of this happy fish. To me, it looks like it might be about to break into a song and dance routine.

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.

Chubs are often seen in the turbulent waters where the swell surges around rocks. This one is a brassy chub, so named for the touches of yellow around mouth, eyes, and gills. Gotta have a soft spot for anything called a chub.

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.