Hi folks,

We just finished a late PM dive at Angel City and saw two fish that we couldn't ID. Sadly, we didn't have a camera with us, so I'm hoping my powers of description will do.

The were pale gray, about a foot long (or so) with long top and bottom dorsal fins. They had pursed lips (LOL, that's the best way I can describe them).

That's about all I've got. We've never them before. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance. Carlea

Hi
I'm going to take guess at Palometa.
Here's a picture that Brian posted some time ago. I hope you don't mind Brian.

Thanks Mickey. That wasn't it. The fins were perpendicular to their bodies.

Sorry. I know I'm not giving folks much to work from.

Just once more. How about this? A Sand Tilefish. Mick

How about Ocean triggerfish

http://form.pbase.com/

Mickey no problem, I remember that was taken at No name on Klein.

Let's try that link again

http://www.pbase.com/kiml/image/74688005

Carlea and Geoff,
Where were the fish? Up in the water column? Close to the reef?

Okay, it was none of those.

Susan, they were swimming in the sandy area between the first and second reef, but sticking closer to the second reef at about 50 feet.

Geoff thinks they look like a small version of an ocean sunfish, if that helps any. In fact, he is thinking more and more that that is what they were, but I thought those fish only came in sizes of XXXXXL. And, you know, only showed themselves to the chosen people (which if we are, then I need to wash my hair).

From a distance, they *almost* looked like rays swimming at a right angle because the dorsal fins quivered like a ray's wings would. Of course, once we got close to them we could see they were fish.

Hey Carlea is this the fish..
juvy mola They do come small..

It really sounds like the Ocean trigger, especially like a ray at a right angle. We saw quite a few around Bonaire last month. Have a look at this link http://zipcodezoo.com/Animals/C/Canthidermis_sufflamen.asp

This one is more what I was looking for.

http://www.magnergraphix.com/ScubaPics/finspix/Trigger.html

Okay, Brian, I think you're right. That last link looked a lot like it. Geoff is disappointed. We had a bet going.

Thanks all for weighing in. Now I know what to write in my dive log.

Thanks I was sure that would be it. Here is one from last month the bottom fin is not missing - it is horizonatal pointing towards the camera.



Hopefully once my broadband is fixed I can post a lot more pictures.

We also saw a lot of triggers on our visit in February!

Brian, congratulate Sue from me on her winning the monthly contest at Capt. Don. I thought I might win it two months straight, but "her" frogfish made an end to that illusion ;-)
Good pic! We didn't see 1 single frogfish in two weeks, even not in two dives at town pier!!!

Cheers,

Eddy

BTW, this was my entry for March

Eddy

Nice pictures you entered esp. the grouper being cleaned. Sue is doing well and I have not won a weekly since Jan 2007.

As for froggies I found one (not the one that Sue won with). We did a lot of shore dives with some Boat dives so the DMs could point out the cool stuff.