Hawaii’s waters are filled with a huge variety of colorful ornate and striking marine life. The Coral Reefs that line the stunning coastlines are home to a huge variety of life and can feel very much like swimming in an aquarium. Unlike your usual aquarium, however, there are no labels and no helpful staff to let you know what you are seeing.
Instead, you need a little bit of knowledge or a great reference guide. So we put together our Hawaiian Reef Fish Guide. We have swum and Dived on many of Hawaii’s best reef systems and identified many of Hawaii’s reef fish. Our guide uses some of our own photos, along with a little help, to help you with the identification of many of Hawaii’s most common and not-so-common fish.
This guide will be equally useful to divers but it is more aimed at Snorkelers, while a lot of our photos are taken on dive sites, all the fish and critters in our Hawaii Reef Fish Guide can be seen from any snorkel site at one time or another. We Start off with the common and move on to the rarer species and finish with some of the really cool BIG stuff along with a few chaps you might not want to meet.
Turtles – Honu
Turtles are thankfully VERY common in Hawaii now. Huge efforts were put into protecting them after we nearly decimated them. And these efforts really paid off and Now Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles, or Honu, Are everywhere. While obviously not a fish we needed to mention these incredible gentle Creatures in our list.
The Honu is only one of several species found in the Hawaiian Islands, others being:
- Hawksbill Turtle
- Leather Back Turtle
- Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
- Loggerhead Turtle
Unfortunately, these Turtles have not made as dramatic a comeback as the Honu, so you are unlikely to encounter them.
If you want to see Turtles in Maui check out our guide here
Common – Every Snorkel
The waters of Hawaii
Known For their Role as Bubbles in Finding Nemo, these Aquarium favorites are found on most reef systems in Hawaii.
These are a real favorite of ours and the placid nature and striking appearance make them a great sighting as they dart around the corals.
Flounder from The Little Mermaid is really a made-up fish, certainly not a flounder, which is flat, but the markings and shape closely resemble the convict tang, and that is good enough for us, We are yet to see a mermaid,
Convict Tangs are very common and often swim in shoals, you may find them around rock or coral pinnacles or just cruising around in a group. A very obvious and striking fish.
Butterflyfish
There are a huge number of Butterflyfish Species found in Hawaii’s Waters. Some are very common and some are far more difficult to find. But You are sure to find Some variety of Butterflyfish on most Snorkel trips. Butterflyfish are very ornate, colorful, and striking fish, often these are the kinds of fish people have in mind when thinking of tropical reef fish. They are not large fish but make up for this in the color and pattern they possess. A large shoal of Raccoon Butterflyfish really feels like you are swimming in an aquarium.
There are many Butterflyfish in Hawaii’s water but the following are the most commonly encountered. Raccoon butterflies can form in shoals of hundreds or more, usually with other species mixed in.
You should spot a huge number of Butterflyfish in most good snorkeling spots and it is a real sign of a good reef.
Sergeant Majors are found in almost all reef systems worldwide. However, the Remoteness of the Hawaiian Islands has altered the Hawaiin Sergent slightly to the point it is a different species found nowhere else on earth.
Technically it’s called a Green Damsel Fish, but most know it as the Sergeant Major. It lacks the Intense yellow of the Atlantic Sergeant but is very similar in pattern and shape. They also possess the same teeth and have been known to get a bit nippy with swimmers and snorkelers. They are no Piranha, but if you find yourself getting nipped it is probably a sergeant.
Another Hollywood Fish, Again from Finding Nemo. These Spectacular and ornate fish really seem like they should be rarer. They can, however, be found on just about every reef system in Hawaii. We rarely hit the water and don’t see Moorish Idols
Don’t try and say that after a few Mai Tai’s, In fact, it’s hard enough without alcohol. This Elaborately named Reef Triggerfish is the State Fish Of Hawaii and is famous the world over. It’s another fish you might think is hard to track down. We howled with glee the first time we saw one. But in reality, they are very common.
HumuHumu actually is just the Hawaiian word for a Triggerfish. Nukunukuapuaa means ” with a snout like a pig” Found in most reefs often in very shallow water, you can find them in waist-deep parts of snorkeling spots.
The Unicorn Fish gets its name not from its scarcity but from the peculiarly shaped horn protruding from its head. These are Sizable fish and large Adult Fish can be found right up to the shoreline in pretty good numbers. A very spectacular sight indeed.
Surgeons
Surgeonfish are Probably our favorite Group of fish. They are always very Striking and grow to really good Sizes. When there is a healthy population of Surgeons you know you are at a healthy reef.
The Previously mentioned Unicornfish, Convict Tang, and Yellow Tang are all technically Surgeonfish this section looks at the True Surgeons.
Triggers and Filefish
Another group of striking and good-sized fish that are a joy to spot. This group included the Humuhumunukunukuapuaa that we mentioned earlier
Black Triggerfish can form into huge shoals, at certain times the entire surface layer can be filled with these impressive fish. Everywhere you turn the triggers rain down. These are very docile and quite dim fish that just hang in the water column waiting for food.
While they seem pretty plain, they are actually very pretty fish when you get up close.
The Barred filefish is a fantastic fish to watch. They are very timid and cowardly, and upon spotting you will likely make a bolt for it. But they are also pretty stupid and will just cram themselves into some small crevice and look at you as if they are invisible. They are the jokers of the reef and we love them
Wrasse
The wrasse are the Cleaners of the oceans. These little brightly colored fish spend their time darting around the reefs, picking off stray bits of food and leftovers, and picking parasites off the reefs more giant creatures. They do a sterling job. They are also very often beautifully colored. While most Wrasse that you will spot are pretty small young fish darting around the coral they can grow to pretty sizable fish that tend to inhabit the deeper waters.
Saddle Wrasse are fantastic little fish, these colorful little creatures, scurry about very close to shore, and bring life and color to any rockpool or rocky coast.
Cleaner wrasse are tiny little fish that can easily be missed. They are brightly colored but hide out of sight most of the time. However, they have the habit of coming out and cleaning parasites off the bigger species. So if you find a large number of cleaner wrasse chances are you are at a cleaning station and something cool will be along to donate its parasites for a Free mean for the Wrasse.
These are BIG Sturdy fish that prowl around the reefs feeding mainly on algae. They are not spectacular to look at but their size can be very impressive. These are some of the biggest fish you will see close to shore. They are not scared of anything and will quite happily let you swim near them as they go about their business.
You will find many species of goatfish in Hawaii, These are often the first fish people sea. They do not hang at the coral reefs and instead inhabit the sandy bottoms. So schools of brightly colored goatfish are sometimes your first sight of marine life. If you are seeing goat fish you are really in the wrong place. Along the sandy bottoms, there is often very little else. Try and head toward the rocky outcrops more.
Blennies and Gobies are small rock-pool fish that can be found all over the coasts in very shallow water and tide pools. Kids adore these and you can view them without venturing into the water.
Less Common
Some Fish are plentiful but not as plentiful or tend to avoid more commonly swum water or very close to sure. These require a little more effort to find, or a bit of luck. They are regular sights in the waters but, just feel a little more special when spotted.

Bluefin Trevally – ‘Omilu
These are big predatory fish that stalk the fringes of reefs looking for a stray fish and an easy meal. Stunning to look at in their striking blue colors they are a real treat. While these fish are pretty common, they do take a bit of finding and heading out to deeper more exposed parts of the reef.

Bullethead Parrotfish –
Uhu
These Big Coral Munching fish are aptly named Parrotfish not just for their wonderful coloration but also for their beaks that they use to munch on the Coral and produce SAND! Yes, those wonderful sandy beaches that you sip your Mai Tai’s on are actually Parrotfish S%*t …so say thank you if you get to see one.

Freckeled Hawkfish – Hilu piliko’a
These Crazy looking fish can only be found down at the bottom foraging among the Corals. Half fish, half …err lizard? These are pretty amazing to see but can be tricky to find.

Marbled Hawkfish – Piliko’a
Another of Hawaii’s Hawkfish. The Marbled Hawkfish are fairly large bottom dwellers that hide away in the Coral and nooks and crannies.

Peacock Grouper – Roi
These are big, brightly colored fish that have very few predators and as such are very brash. If you spot one of these it is unlikely to be spooked and will just go about its business. While they are an impressive sight they are sadly invasive and cause a lot of problems on Hawaii’s Reefs

Bluestripe Snapper – Ta’ape
You rarely see these brightly colored Snappers on their own. These are shoaling fish and you find them densely packed around rocky pinnacles and coral stacks. These are a great signs of a healthy reef system and are a joy to encounter.

Trumpetfish – Nunu
When you spot one of these alien-looking beasts they need little identification. The first few times it’s simply WTF! These are peaceful creatures that simply float around not really seeming to do a great deal. Their name is pretty self-explanatory as they look pretty much like a trumpet.

Squirrelfish – ‘Ala’ihi
We strongly encourage divers and Snorkelers to peer into any nook and cranny, alcove, or crevice. You never know what you will find. However, should you peer in only to find a big eye peering back…try not to jump out of your skin, it will likely just be a Squirrelfish resting.
These nocturnal fish find dark quiet hiding places during the day to rest before coming out at night and putting that big eye to use.
An endemic Secis to the Hawaiian Island the Hawaiian Damsel is a fairly innocuous fish but spotting one is a real delight knowing you can find this fish nowhere else! The Little Damsel likes to make its home in large healthy coral heads another reason this fish is great to spot as it shows the health of the Reef! Finally, if you can get up close to one, you may hear it grunting, which is pretty cool. You can hear them grunting away in this Video (2:48).
Rare –
These are the Goldilocks Species that require hunting out or great fortune to spot. Be assured they are in the water but your chances of bumping into them are slim and you should feel very blessed and excited if you do.

Frogfish
These incredible fish are possibly the weirdest fish on earth, at least anything that isn’t from the abyssal depths. The Frogfish is scarcely recognizable as a Fish or anything else for that matter. Running into one feels like running into some forgotten creature from the prehistoric.
It is pretty unlikely you will find one however as they are pretty rare and very good at camouflage. If you do manage to pick one out well done, these are a real treat!

Day Octopus – He’e
Another Master of Camouflage, you will only spot the day octopus if it moves, and once it stops you are likely to lose it instantly. It can vanish into the tiniest little hole and be gone for good. The good news is these critters are active throughout the day and roam around the reefs looking for a meal.

Moray Eels – Puhi
We love Morays. While they may not win any beauty contests these monsters from the deep are fantastic to see. weather, you find one just chilling in its hole mouth agape, or out swimming from hole to hole they are a real joy to behold.
Less common from shore but on snorkeling trips to remote reefs such as Molokini they can regularly be spotted. There are several types to find. The most common being the Stout Moray, but there are Snowflake, Whitemouth, Zebra, Dwarf, and Yellow Margin Morays too. You may even spot the Giant Moray, See Below!
Critters –

Red Pencil Urchins – Ha’uku’uku’ula’ula
A real Icon of Hawaii. These startling urchins are very common amongst the Rocks and Corals of the Islands. Completely harmless and sedate, they just sit on the bottom looking pretty. Unlike the Rock Boring Urchin or the Black Sea Urchin who are both very painful to step on and will leave spines in your feet!

Mottled Sea Star – Hoka
There are only a few Starfish found in Hawaii’s waters and non are in huge numbers. One of our childhood favorites is pretty hard to come by in Hawaii. While they are abundant in the deeper waters the Shallow water Species have not really made it out here to thrive. Look carefully in cracks and crevices and you may find one or two, or look under rocks for brittle stars (you might make a few friends doing this!)
You may also spot a crown of thorns Starfish, an enemy on many reefs, but they are native to Hawaii and cause few problems out here.

Spiny lobster – Ula
Lobsters are often on the Menu in Hawaiian restaurants but few are now caught in Hawaiian waters as they have been largely fished out. There are heavy protections in place no and most Lobsters are flown in, often from Main or the Caribean, where there is an abundance.
Spotting one out on the reef is a tough ask as they hide away deep in crevices and rarely come out. We think they know how delicious they are!
Shrimps and Crabs
Again considering the huge numbers of fish and marine life in the waters it is surprising to find so few crustaceans. We rarely see crabs and while there are many shrimp species they are pretty rare.

Banded Coral Shrimp – Ōpae kai
The one we do see quite often it the Banded Coral Shrimp. Look under any overhang or crevice and you may spot one hiding away, it’s not like you can miss them!
BIG Stuff –
With the BIG creatures, you are likely to need to get a bit further out. These are primarily the domain of divers, but more adventurous snorkelers have a good chance at the right spot.

Dolphins – Nai’a
There are several species of dolphins that inhabit the shores of Hawaii. You do have to get pretty lucky to encounter them in the water. While they readily approach boats and play in the bow waves they are warier of us when we are in the water.
You should never approach dolphins but if you are lucky enough for them to come to you just let them guide you and never touch, grab or ride them. They are wide creatures and are simply coming for a look at you.

Manta Rays – Hahalua
These Giants are on many people’s bucket lists and we have been enthralled by them since childhood. They can be found all over the islands but on a few select locations can they be reliable. There are a few cleaning stations that regularly host Mantas and there are Night Diving Sites in Kona that are very reliable, but outside of these spots, it’s down to luck.

Eagle Ray – Hihimanu
Eagle Rays are far more common in Hawaii waters and often swim right into the reefs and bays. If there is any deep water keep your eyes on it for dark shapes as Eagles rays are quite common and while not as stunning as giant Manta’s they are still pretty cool and the mottled skin is quite beautiful. They are not overly scared f us and you can swim along with them for quite a while, feeling very in touch with the Ocean!
Swimming with Eagle Ray in Napili, Maui

Giant Trevally – Ulua Aukea
A fisherman’s favorite the GT is a large powerful fish that hunts hard and hits prey hard. You are very unlikely to see a large adult when snorkeling but juveniles are common. They have a very dark almost black appearance when young so easy to tell from a Blue-fin Trevally.

Giant /Javanese Moray Eel – Puhi
These are rare in shallow waters but they are fairly common in the deeper parts of Hawaii’s oceans. We often see them Diving, but we thought we would add them as, well. WOW! These things are enormous, their heads about the same size as yours and you feel you could easily end up in there! They are pretty placid and simply hang out breathing through that Giant mouth! You can see them here on a Lanai Adventure dive.

Humpback Whales – Kuapio Kohola
Especially in Maui, the chance to bump into a Whale is unlikely but definitely possible. You will have no doubt seen them breaking the surface just off the coast and if your snorkel sight has deep water exposure it’s definitely possible.
However, it is pretty unlikely. We have never managed to swim with one from shore. That does not mean you cannot experience one from shore. One of the most magical things about the Humpbacks of Maui is the song. Dive down a few feet, let your ears settle, and hold your breath and let everything be still. You will clearly and unmistakably hear the Whalesong, assuming they are nearby and it is truly magical.

White Tip Reef Sharks – Manō Lālākea
The Reefs are home to a number of completely harmless reef sharks. These are usually in slightly deeper water and usually only accessible
Other Sharks – Mano
There are Sharks in Hawaii’s waters and some are even potentially man-eaters. But shark attacks in Hawaii are shockingly rare. So don’t be concerned and please don’t google it, Shark Attacks make headlines, even though they are so rare a heap of headlines makes them sound common. There is almost zero chance you will encounter a shark in coastal Snorkelling locations and if you do you should feel lucky.
We have only encountered Sharks when we have looked for them and almost always when diving specifically for them. Still, Hawaii’s remote oceanic location means many species of shark can end up in the waters including
Great White Sharks
King of the Ocean, The Chances of encountering one of these while snorkeling in Hawaii are practically nil. They are in Hawaiian water in small numbers but do not venture into places where you could encounter them by accident.
Blue Sharks
This is a true oceanic Shark that roams the open ocean, this will naturally put it on a collision course with the Hawaiian islands, But it is not a shore fish so unless you are snorkeling miles out to sea you will not see a blue. And even if you did it would be no threat.
Oceanic White Tips
Like the Blue, these are open ocean sharks so no concern at all. However, they are actually one of the most deadly sharks for humans and are responsible for more human deaths than any other shark. But the vast majority of these attacks were naval men during WW2 after their ships were sunk. Most probably as good as dead when the sharks moved in any way.
Tiger Sharks
Of all the Sharks in Hawaii, the only one that is any type of threat is the Tiger. These will actually attack humans, although rarely on purpose. Mostly of concern to Surfers where attacks are mistaken identity. Like most sharks in Hawaii, you will only ever see a Tiger if you look for it, and even then you will be lucky!
Scalloped Hammer-Heads
There are a few locations and Dive spots where you Can see Hammerheads, we have been lucky enough to dive with schools of these off Molokai and it was incredible. They are no threat at all to humans and you are very unlikely to see one by accident, if you do, you are very lucky indeed.
Galapagos Sharks
These are the most likely shark you could encounter, Apart from the Whitetip Reef Shark. These prowl the outer fringes of the reefs and are only interested in fish. We have seen these around Molokini but only off the back wall.
Unintentional Shark encounters in Hawaii are incredibly rare, and any incident is even more unlikely. Snorkeling near shore in calm clear waters then the chances of seeing anything remotely close to attack size are infinitesimally small. We only mention sharks simply out of interest and completeness.
Have Your Say?
Got anything to Say about Hawaii’s incredible reef fish? Just pop us a comment below. Seen something you can’t identify? again drop us a comment and we will see if we can help
Beautiful site, great pictures!!! would it hunt to please include the Hawaiian names? This is Hawaii…
You are absolutely right, no excuse, we will get right on it!
Steve
All done now, Hawaiian Names in “Italics”
Sorry for the oversight!
Steve
DO you know the English name for Oapukai
Honestly, it’s not a name we have heard of before, but when we google it we get images back of the Stocky Hawkfish, although we know these as “po’opa’a”
Unless you mean something else?
Aloha from Maui, Steve
I enjoyed this write up and it helped me identify some fish I’ve spotted, but do have one little quibble. Most of the research, especially over the last few years, debunks Great Whites being “King of the Ocean”. That title clearly belongs to the Orca and researchers have recorded Great Whites fleeing when Orcas show up.
Cheers,
Craig
Thanks Craig, glad you are enjoying the wonderful underwater world of Maui.
Of course you are right, sometimes its fine line between common perception and actually scientific reality.
The sheer intelligence of Orca mean they can easily outwit great whites, coupled with the fact they hunt in packs its not a surprise the Whites scarper!
Its also worth saying that despite their formidable prowess they has been no documented case of an Orca attacking or killing a human being…well not in the wild!
Amazing animals, we believe they do make appearances in Hawaiian waters they are very rare, they prefer richer hunting grounds with more marine mammals.
Thanks
Steve
Today at two step on Big I saw an interesting fish I’d never seen before: a bright light blue, about 12-16 inches, disc shape but unusually big/tall triangular fins on both top and bottom. I got a picture but it’s not ready to post yet. Any ideas?
Hi Emily, Must say we are a bit stumped by your description.
One thought we had was Pomfret This is more Silver than blue but would appear a light blue color underwater. It’s a fast-swimming Pelagic species so we think you will be able to dismiss off-hand.
Also the Spadefish sort of hits the description?
We would love to see the picture when ready and if you get an identification please lets us know. To help us keep looking can you describe the type of fish it was? This helps to narrow down the categories. So was it similar to Angelfish? Was it a Pelagic (pomfret) or more like a Moorish idol?
Thanks
Steve
Hi Steve, Id say it looked close to the spadefish but very clearly blue, and with pointier/triangular fins on top and bottom. The fin shape was quite striking and what got my attention first. I will try and get that picture to you! 🙂
More pelagic than angelfish like. I have pics but don’t see where to post them?
Hi, If you upload the pic to any social site you can just share the link, or alternatively E-Mail it to me and I can upload it here Steve@yourusacityguide.com (All appropriate credit will be given)
Really interested in what it is, and whether or not it “should” have been there! If we can ID it and it’s not supposed to be then it may be worth reporting to the Invasive Species Council to make them aware
Thanks
Steve
Hi, Here are your Pics, Thanks so much for sharing them.
My instant reaction to seeing them was that it was some kind of Triggerfish or Filefish. I can tell instantly by the bumbling nature of the fish, that comes across even from a pic. Obviously, Triggerfish are very common on Hawaii’s shores and we have seen thousands bumbling around! But not that exact type. Going through all my resources I am struggling to get an Exact match. The Closet I can get is the Balistes Polylepis or Fine Scaled Triggerfish. Shape, Eye, Fins, Size, Mouth are all a perfect match but it just seems a little off on color, although some of the pics online definitely show as blue and by the looks of it your fish is still juvenile and maybe the blue is more prominent at that stage.
It seems it’s a fairly new fish to Hawaiian shores but there is definitely a presence normally at slightly greater depths, again maybe reinforcing the juvenile status of your fish.
I am not 100% in this identification but it’s so close especially the fine shape that it’s a close as I can get really. This image particularly matches almost exactly apart from again the lack of blue coloration.
Let me know if you agree or can find a closer match, it’s certainly a very close relative if not this exact species, and definitely a great spot!
Thanks
Steve
I agree completely that it is close but not exact! The color but also the shape of the fins distinguished it from other triggerfish I have seen. Glad I am right in thinking it was unusual! 🙂
Aloha!
I saw an usual creature today in the reef in Kahala (Oahu). It was a long snake like creature, about 2 feet long. It had a segmented body and was brown and reddish colored. It did not have an eel face. One end was hidden under a rock and the other end had several tentacles about 2 inches long at most. When I first spotted it, it didn’t move for 5 minutes and I was starting to wonder if I was staring at an old piece of rope! I took a break and looked again and the tentacles had detached from the rock and were purposefully moving. The body was not entirely smooth but had texture/ridges with its segments. I don’t have an underwater camera so no pics and I’ve never seen anything like it! Mahalo for your interest!
Really, you saw a 2ft long Snake/Eel with tentacles protruding from its FACE and you didn’t swim off as FAST as you could!!! Really think you may have found an Alien! There are a lot of reports of UFO’s at the minute!
Joking aside, that is one weird creature you are describing. We were completely baffled and quite disturbed by your description. At first, we were thinking of some kind of eel squid we had not come across, but no joy with that. Eventually, we came across the Synapta Maculata! Also called the Snake Sea Cucumber.
This fits your description almost exactly, I particularly like this description from a Marine Biologist “At first, I could not believe that these weird objects were alive. I thought they must be strange, dead strands of some deep-sea seaweed now washed into the shallows by the tide, to roll and undulate helplessly on the sand to the small movements of the sea. Closer inspection showed me that they were indeed alive, unlikely though it seemed”
Sounds almost exactly like your “rope” description!
The only issue is I am not seeing much in the way of confirmation these beasts are in Hawaiian waters! They are Indo-Pacific so it’s possible it’s washed over that way. I am also finding a few related species such as the Conspicuous Sea Cucumber that seem to fit pretty well and are found in Hawaii’s waters.
Honestly, if it’s not some form of Sea Cucumber, we are at a loss and think you should just await the Men In Black showing up!
Seriously what a fantastic Spot! Thanks for sharing!
Steve
So glad this comment was posted! We launched our boat in Kaneohe today and noticed these all along the concrete and rocks of the harbor. They’re just gnarly looking… some seem to be more pink in color, some red, some purple.
They don’t look alive.. but they move and after watching for a while, we figured they were.
The previous description nailed it! Soooo weird.
Glad we could be of help these are really weird little beasties !!!!!
Yes, I’ve seen a lot of these in Kaneohe Bay! My friend called them sea worms, but it fits the picture of the conspicuous sea cucumber perfectly. Maybe the locals just Nickname them sea worms. Lol! I’ll be honest. They kind of gross me out. They are all around her dock. I feel like I can’t walk anywhere without accidentally stepping on one. She said they just grow back. Kind of like an earthworm. Many different colors as you described.
I saw a fish today at Sea Lodge Beach, Kauai north shore. It had black and white stripes and looked like it had a crown. It had stripes radiating from its eyes. It was about six inches long. I can’t find a photo anywhere, but it was unusual and beautiful. Can you help? Thanks!
Hi Julie,
We think that sounds like the Hawaiian Morwong, Goniistius vittatus. This is endemic to the islands and quite unusual to see during the day
Let us know what you think?
Steve
Thanks for the helpful guide!
Do you have any idea what this fish is?
It swam along the floor and hid in crevices.
Hi,
Sorry but the link isnt working properly, its just linking to the hosting site not the actual file
Can you re add the link so we can take a look
Steve
Sorry about that, here is the link: https://postimg.cc/5YDhr7MJ
Hi Will,
You had us pretty stumped there and we are still not 100% but think we have it. The Size is still throwing us as the fish we have it narrowed down to is pretty small and not quite as large as the fish in your image. There is nothing for reference so we are not sure how big your fish was?
Everything else fits however and we are 95% certain it’s a Leopard Blenny
The Dual Coloration, the large, spotty pectoral fins, the extra little fin at the head, downward mouth and protruding eyes, and behaviors, it’s all there, They grow to about 6-8 inches. Yours is definitely is more blotchy than a lot of the examples on Google, but those blotches are made up of spots and there are some similar examples when the spots form blotches. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWKF36PK0ek
https://www.google.com/search?q=leopard+blenny&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjrvc67mejzAhUjgM4BHRaQAYIQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=leopard+blenny&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQDFAAWABg5dkLaABwAHgAgAEAiAEAkgEAmAEAqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWc&sclient=img&ei=0AR4YeuVE6OAur4PlqCGkAg&rlz=1C1SQJL_enGB795GB795
Hope that helps,
We were pretty stuck on this one, we did think it was a marbled hawkfish bit the pectoral fins are wrong!
Steve
Thank you! I did an image search for leopard blenny and I saw a few that looked nearly identical to this one, so you figured it out.
Excellent looks like they really do have very varied markings, some almost completely spotty and some far more blotchy like yours.
Glad we got to the bottom of it,
Love hunting down the IDs on these random spots!
Steve
I think I saw a finescale trigger fish at near the Captain Cook monument the other day. Are they common in HI? Really a neat fish to watch.
After posting I saw Emily’s post and pictures. What I saw at Captain Cook looked exactly like that and I think your right, a fine scaled trigger fish. I definitly saw the trigger on the top of it’s head. I was surprised to see a trigger fish that big. I googled fine scaled trigger fish and found several pics of them from Mexico. Emily’s pics were really good and greatly appreciated.
Hi Jesse, Sorry we had a little break over New Year and only just got your message.
Looks like you found your answer based on a previous identification on here.
Yep Finescale Triggers are not common in Hawaiian Waters but they are definitely here. That’s two confirmed sightings on here, and we only get people posting when it’s out of the ordinary.
Glad you got your ID
Steve
I was snorkeling at Hanauma Bay yesterday and saw some pure black (super dark black) fish with a thin neon green line along the fin and top of the tail. 8-10 inches long maybe. Stunning! Can someone help me with the name?
Hi Chris,
Can you give us any more info? Like the shape? Behavior (surface bottom, midwater, movement?)
It could be the Black Durgon, but without a little more we would be hard-pressed to ID.
Steve
Hi! Would love some help ID-ing a fish I saw while snorkeling in Poipu, Kauai. It was about 2.5/3 feet long, a turquoise blue, and didn’t seem to have a dorsal fin. It looked a bit like an eel but it had a round face and swam in a straight line like a fish. Its tail skinnied out a lot towards the end and not segmented from the body like most fish. It didn’t seem to have protruding teeth. Please help!! It was super cool.
Our first thought was a MahiMahi which seems to fit all your criteria, but not sure about the tail. It does also have a dorsal fin, but this can be retracted and it is full body length so may appear as if it has none.
https://www.google.com/search?q=mahi+mahi&source=lmns&bih=722&biw=1536&rlz=1C1SQJL_enGB795GB795&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiH0ozD4-T9AhW8rycCHewSBG0Q_AUoAHoECAEQAA
Take a look and see if it fits. if not, any more info? where about was the fish swimming, surface, midwater, bottom? Did it look predatory, scavenger, or herbivore? Based on size it certainly sounds PElegic and predatory, which does make us think MahiMahi.
Sounds like a great spot whatever it was. If it was a MahiMahi, these are pretty common, but not in the sort of locations you would snorkel! A very rare spot in that case, these are fast open-water fish!
Steve