Identify this yellow Fiji fish!

[Papa_Bear]

Close to shore about 15ft deep in Beqa Lagoon:

 

[redrover]

Blenny?

 

[Rick Murchison]

Was this fellow on a brief excursion off the bottom, or pretty much free swimming? Would you say it achieved neutral buoyancy? With that deeply forked tail my initial thought is "tilefish" of some sort, but the rest ain't quite right...
How long do you reckon it is? Looks about 4 inches (10 cm) in the picture... that about right?
... on second thought... either Ecsenius midas - the Midas Blenny, or Meiacanthus ovalaunensis - Yellow Forktail or Canary Blenny.
Rick

 

[Papa_Bear]

3" to 4" Free Swimming neutral, because of the fin so far forward I considered a juvenile Dolphin Fish? I considered the Blenny at first, but the fin so far forward on the head bothered me! Plus the free swimming!???? Thats why I posted it! This is fun! Thanks.............

 

[Rick Murchison]

3" to 4" Free Swimming neutral, because of the fin so far forward I considered a juvenile Dolphin Fish? I considered the Blenny at first, but the fin so far forward on the head bothered me! Plus the free swimming!???? Thats why I posted it! This is fun! Thanks.............

Those two blennies do have the fin up there, but don't usually swim around with it up - maybe a mate attracting showoff, which would also explain the free swimming for longer than you'd normally expect from a blenny.
What we need here is a real ixthyologist with some South Pacific expertise... which I, decidedly, ain't
Here's a juvie dolphin/dorado/mahi-mahi...

Rick

 

[Papa_Bear]

Thanks, it has to be the Blenny!

 

[ryan115]

I can fill the ichthyologist role, with moderate south Pacific experience, mostly Gulf of Mexico, but...

99% positive Meiacanthus oualanensis
Head doesnt match up with Midas Blenny Ecsenius midas

 

[Rick Murchison]

I can fill the ichthyologist role, with moderate south Pacific experience, mostly Gulf of Mexico, but...

99% positive Meiacanthus oualanensis
Head doesnt match up with Midas Blenny Ecsenius midas

Thanks... I sorta kinda thought that but was unwilling to bet
Rick

 

[ryan115]

good ID