Active during the day, it remains close to the shelter of the coral while feeding on algae and detritus typically found on dead coral surfaces. Sightings are rare because it prefers branching corals and ledges deeper than 20 feet. This is the only common angelfish found in Hawaii’s reefs, and also one of the most stunning of all fish you might encounter here. Rich royal blue tail color with nearly black marbling extends through the middle of the body to the base of the head. Coloration is vivid orange marbled with turquoise. Physical Description: Disc-shaped fish that grows to about 5 inches in length. We can’t list them all in one blog, so here are five of the most beautiful, recognizable, and uniquely Hawaiian fish that you might spot on our snorkeling tours. Some are sighted frequently, others on rare occasion.
What makes them special? About 20 percent of the reef fish that live in Hawaii are found nowhere else on Earth. No doubt you’re most excited about the fascinating types of marine life that you’ll discover, and aside from the turtles and dolphins that we frequently see on our tours, there are some truly special fish that you may see as you explore these vibrant underwater ecosystems. My personal opinion: find one of those people and give ’em fish for dinner.Thinking about joining us for a Maui snorkeling tour? Ours can take you to the lovely little crescent island of Molokini, or to the scenic shores of neighboring Lanai island. Some people find them reasonably tasty grilled. These are some of the larger Hawaiian reef fish and are strong fighters. Largest of the jacks, the kahala averages between 15-40 pounds, however they can get well over 100. The impressive teeth are NOT just for show! If you’re lucky enough to bring one of these beasts on board, I’d recommend letting the crew handle it unless you know what you’re doing. They can be caught casting from the shore, bottom fishing, and inshore trolling with bait or artificial lure. Menpachi are not commonly fish caught on Maui bottom fishing trips as they are essentially nocturnal, and are usually found in deeper waters.īarracuda are common predators in Maui’s near shore waters. These are keepers – highly prized, delectable little morsels. Very good eating.ĭon’t let their small size fool you. When it becomes more active, it glows a deep red color. When the fish is resting, it displays this blotchy flesh color ranging from pink to brown. The term āweoweo in Hawaiian means “glowing red”. An effective tag and release program has been underway for nearly a decade now in order to monitor the breeding, growth, and migration of the papio and ulua. Many consider them to be better fighters than mahi mahi or even marlin. Ulua are caught both while trolling Maui Hawaii inshore waters, whipping/spinning from shore, and while bottom fishing. Those that have yet to reach the 10 pound mark are referred to as “papio”. The Hawaiian term “ulua” actually encompasses various members of the jack family that have attained a weight of 10 pounds or more. Omilu (Bluefin trevally) Pa´opa´o (Golden trevally, yellow striped) Papa (Island jack, yellow spot) White papio/ulua (Giant trevally, GT, ulua) It has somewhat translucent, delicate pink flesh and very good eating, with a slightly stronger flavor than mahi mahi or opakapaka.Ī member of the jack family, this trevally is easily recognized from the splattering of yellow spots on it flank. Uku is also caught on the surface, while trolling inshore waters. Uku is one of three common snapper varieties in found in Maui waters, and is a frequent catch on the shallow reefs. They taste great, but have been implicated in ciguatera poisonings.
Closely related to Parrotfish, Hogfish can be recognized by their elongated snout, protruding lips, and sharp teeth. Weighing in at an average of about 1-2 pounds, the Hawaiian hogfish (A’awa) is one of the larger menbers of the wrasse family.
Opinions vary as to whether their introduction has actually harmed the other indigenous population reef fish. While edible, Taape are not as tasty as other snapper species. It is one of the most common Hawaiian reef fish. Ta’ape were introduced into Hawaiian waters from French Polynesia over 50 years ago and now thrive within Hawaii’s shallow reefs.
Hawaii boasts a wide variety of snappers and jacks ranging from under a pound to over 100 lbs. Below are only a few of the myriad of Hawaiian reef fish which can be caught in Maui’s inshore waters These are caught shore fishing from the beach, spear fishing, or on a Maui bottom fishing charter.
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