August 28, 2020

This pilot fish, scientific name Naucrates ductor, found me while snorkeling off Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean.  The species swims throughout the world’s oceans, including in Hawaii waters. © Craig Thomas

When the Honolulu Star-Advertiser stopped publishing my Ocean Watch column in March, I vowed to continue writing about my wildlife experiences online. A website, though, isn’t the same as a newspaper-in-hand, and I worried that my readers would stop sharing stories and asking questions. This week, though, Oahu reader, April Sasaki, eased my fears when she emailed both.

“Last week, I went to Kaiona Beach [Waimanalo] and was in the shallows for about an hour,” April wrote. “Then a very tiny black fish (about 1/4-inch-long), which I at first thought was a dark piece of algae (until I noticed it moving against the current) began circling me. It seemed to be attracted to my long-sleeved black rash guard and kept within 1 to 2 inches of my arms or torso for the next 30 minutes. It even allowed me to cup it in my hands…”

“I returned to Kaiona this week and the same little fish popped up. This time it was ½- inch-long and had black stripes on a yellow body… It again stuck with me, very closely, for the next 45 minutes… I was absolutely delighted to have a buddy and I’m looking forward to Kaiona next week.”

April asked if her fish might be a juvenile sergeant major. Good guess, but no Hawaiian sergeant in its right mind would let a pair of human hands cup it. No, what April described is classic pilot fish behavior.

Hawaii hosts its own endemic sergeant, called the Hawaiian sergeant, or mamo, or Abudefduf abdominalis, (juveniles pictured.)  © Susan Scott

This U.S. Army insignia of a sergeant major is likely where the sergeant fishes get their common name. Nineteen damselfish species called sergeants inhabit the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. http://bit.ly/2QBjVpP

Pilot fish are members of the jack family, a group of fast-swimming carnivores. All jacks are meat eaters, but pilot fish are famous for hitching their wagons to sharks to feast on the big fishes’ parasites. (Check out this great, short video: bit.ly/31tl7Sq) This relationship is called mutualism. The pilot fish gets protection and food, and the shark get rid of irritating pests.

Pilot fish can be black when tiny, yellow with black stripes when older, and gray with black stripes as adults. The species grows to about a foot long, and is found worldwide.

Besides sharks, pilot fish are also happy to snuggle up to turtles, rays, boats, and people. We once found a pilot fish hugging Honu’s hull when we were becalmed about 500 miles off the Big Island. And last year, when snorkeling in the Indian Ocean off Zanzibar, I had my own baby pilot fish.

My little yellow-and-black fish seemed enamored with my brightly-colored Tommy Bahama rash guard, hovering so close that I had to ask Craig to take pictures with his camera.

Pilot fish often swim too close for their hosts to see them. I occasionally got glimpses of the little fish as it dashed about during my free dives. © Craig Thomas

In Mexico waters in 2012, Craig had his own pilot fish for most of a day, the little fish even waiting for him after a stand-up surf session: susanscott.net/ow/jul-23-12/.

Craig’s free diving tempted my Zanzibar pilot fish to leave me for another. © Susan Scott

I had never before snorkeled at Kaiona Beach Park, but April’s story prompted me to pack up mask and fins, and go there. The little pilot fish did not grace me with its presence, but I had a pleasant morning, and now have another place to explore.

Thank you, April, for helping me get over my worry that I’ll lose touch with my fellow fish fans. You reminded me that my Ocean Watch column isn’t gone. Like most things in the world these days, it’s just different.

My pilot fish came back to my belly and stayed with me until I got back in the boat. I keep my camera handy by wearing its yellow and orange cord around my neck. © Craig Thomas

P.S. The Kolea Count website now has a SUBSCRIBE button for updates on the Kolea Count site koleacount.org You’ll get an email notice when I post plover news there.

Forward to fellow fish loving friends: susanscott.net/ow/?page_id=849/#subscribe-container