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.