Fish at Ponquoge Bridge on 8-4-12...What are they?

[Diver Dave 69]

Saw these at Ponquogue Bridge last Saturday. Any idea what type of fish these are?

 

[drrich2]

I don't see a photo in your post.

Richard.

 

[Rich Keller]

I cannot see a pic either. This time of year you start to see tropical fish that came up with the gulf stream so it could be just about anything.

 

[Diver Dave 69]

Will update tonight. Sorry about that.

 

[Diver Dave 69]

Been told these are pilot fish

 

[farsidefan1]

yup, naucrates ductor - or pilot fish.

 

[Diver Dave 69]

I have heard that they like to follow sharks?

 

[CT-Rich]

They are actually banded rudderfish. they are very similar to pilot fish. I have seen them a couple of times in RI. I actually had a little ones tag along a few times, very cool because they at not easily spooked by divers and will hang around under floats. I talked about them in my blog post about diving FT Wetherill last week.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/blogs/ct-rich/384-diving-ft-wetherill-ri.html

---------- Post Merged at 09:45 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 09:40 PM ----------

the band across the eye is the tell that they are rudderfish and not pilots. Pilots would have a pale face without the band. how big were these fellows? they look like they were considerably bigger than the ones I have seen. The bands fade as they get bigger (they reach about 2 feet).

 

[RX8Bob]

I've had them under by boat many many times when fishing off Pt. Pleasant, Seagirt and so on. Actually almost always spotting them swimming about the outboard. Always just assumed they were pilot fish, guess I was wrong

 

[CT-Rich]

I thought the same thing until it was pointed out and then I looked them up. live and learn...