Need help Identifying this long black fish

[JessieCho]

Black long fish from Maui

• JessieCho
• Jan 6, 2021
• 1
• barracuda cleaning hawaii maui

I would like some help identifying this black long fish in the middle left of the photo. I didn’t see this until I looked at photo carefully. It’s taken from Olowalu, Maui. I tried to do a google search but didn’t find anything. Thanks!

 

[rhwestfall]

barracuda

 

[JessieCho]

Isn’t barracuda silver? Or it just looks black on the photo?

 

[rhwestfall]

Lighting/angle...

 

[ColoDale]

Caribbean Barracuda can be black on top and change color. The one in your photo definitely has the mouth of a Barracuda and tail (though I've not see light and dark there). Definite lighting contrasts here. I can't say what species it is. I am not that big on Pacific fishes.

 

[KauaiScuba]

Great Barracuda getting his teeth cleaned by a Cleaner Wrasse. Cool picture!

 

[living4experiences]

Nice barracuda with its mouth open for dental hygiene. Cool!

 

[JessieCho]

Oh is that what’s going on? I thought it’s trying to eat the fish! please excuse my ignorance...

 

[KauaiScuba]

It definitely looks that way doesn't it?! What a crazy fish to step into the jaws of death! Lucky his dental skills are top notch! Awesome picture!

 

[drrich2]

I like that photo. Nice to see the yellow tangs; having seen them in pet stores, I wondered where they lived in the wild. I haven't dove Hawaii; I agree that looks like the barracuda I see in the Caribbean and Florida. I've seen one change color and pattern; saw one with blotches basically turn them off.

And they can look unusual. A few years back I posted a pic of a big one from Bonaire on the forum and asked what it was. People said barracuda. I was like 'But it's fat! That thing's obese! I've never seen a fat barracuda.'

Well...now I have.