Fish ID Please! Tropical in North Atlantic?

[a1a9]

I saw this fish off Cape Ann in Gloucester MA though I don’t think its native. Possibly a tropical? Can someone help me ID her? She is about 6" long and seemed very interested in what I was doing.

 

[DamselDoc]

I am not certain about this, but I would guess that it is a pilot fish (Naucrates ductor). This is based on the photos and description in Humann & DeLoache 2nd ed. p.80-81. However, the ventral fins look too large. Perhaps a different member of the same family?
You might also want to take a look at the sheepshead (Archosaragus probatocephalus). The ventral fins are a closer match.

 

[herman]

Def not a sheepshead, caught and fried many of them.

 

[perdidochas]

I saw this fish off Cape Ann in Gloucester MA though I don’t think its native. Possibly a tropical? Can someone help me ID her? She is about 6" long and seemed very interested in what I was doing.

My guess is the man-of-war fish--Nomeus gronovii

 

[Scubakevdm]

I saw this fish off Cape Ann in Gloucester MA though I don’t think its native. Possibly a tropical? Can someone help me ID her? She is about 6" long and seemed very interested in what I was doing.

That's a juvenile banded rudderfish.

 

[a1a9]

Thanks Scubakevdm, I'd say thats what she is:

Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

 

[a1a9]

In fact she is now the poster child:

Fish and Wildlife Research Institute