Went to the bridge for diving today. Arrived at 0800 for an 0900 high tide. The park was not crowded, though more people than I expected for a Monday morning. Entered the water at 0825, visibility was 30ft (somewhat better than yesterday), sea temp still holding at 78F. Did a REEF fish count, 75 species in sixty minutes. When trying tell juvenile Grey Angelfish from French Angelfish, the difference is in the coloring of the caudal fin. Grey Angelfish have a yellow body bar on the forward part of the caudal fin, the margin of the caudal fin is transparent. French Angelfish have the same yellow body bar on the forward part of the caudal fin, but the yellow goes all the way around the margin, like a little yellow ring. When trying to tell Juvenile Queen Angelfish from juvenile Blue Angelfish the body bars are the telltale. On the Queen Angelfish the body bars are slightly bent or arced, on the Blue Angelfish the body bars are straight. Lastly the two most common silver baitfish observed at the Phil Foster Park are Scaled Sardines and Spanish Sardines. They are somewhat difficult to tell apart. Scaled Sardines have a deeper body profile, and a slight greenish color mixed with the silver, Spanish Sardines have a less robust body profile and are more silvery. They are difficult to get still photos of because the color reflects strobe lights, and they move around so fast. Light was just right today to get a decent capture without strobe. Respectively Juvenile Queen Angelfish, Juvenile Grey Angelfish with slight genetic variation of coloring on caudal fin (another image of same individual is on the Oct 7, 2021 posting), Spanish Sardine, Spanish Sardine video.
