Look what I caught!! (Moray Eel ID)

[Crabs+Shrimps-69]

I’m probably going to get a 180 gallon tank, and I am thinking of going out with a scoop net and catching a yellow tang. I’ll also probably collect a variety of Zoas or any other softies that you are allowed to have. Good luck on catching those fish, Hawaiis reefs are beautiful

I thought you weren't allowed to catch wild fish in Hawaii?

 

[UncommonSense]

I’m probably going to get a 180 gallon tank, and I am thinking of going out with a scoop net and catching a yellow tang. I’ll also probably collect a variety of Zoas or any other softies that you are allowed to have. Good luck on catching those fish, Hawaiis reefs are beautiful

You definitely need to research rules and regulations first… as far as I know, it is 100% illegal to do any coral harvesting…

Also, all fish harvesting is currently under review… be careful!

 

[KrisReef]

I don't know, but I've met locals that say they catch them for food often. So I think it's ok. I really want some reef fish. Yellow tangs should be the easiest, but I'd kill to get some flame or potter's wrasses and a bandit angel or crosshatch trigger. Don't know where the good places are on Oahu. I think the big island might be better, but logistically that's too much trouble to get them back here. After catching such an awesome eel, I'm invigorated to try and catch some local fish before I leave here in the next couple of months.

For anyone interested, this is what I'm using to catch so the fish aren't harmed:

Amazon product

​

Keeping wild caught fish in an aquarium is a great thing, but releasing the fish back into the wild (especially after a longer time period -not a day like the eel) is a biosecurity risk/threat to the wild populations that may seem like no big deal, but it is not a safe management practice by any measure.

If you take fish out of the wild they probably should not be returned after a month (random length, no data) of captivity. Give them to another aquarist or eat them, but don't turn them loose, please.

How big is the risk? Much greater than the lost lives of the individuals sacrificed.

 

[CBonito]

Keeping wild caught fish in an aquarium is a great thing, but releasing the fish back into the wild (especially after a longer time period -not a day like the eel) is a biosecurity risk/threat to the wild populations that may seem like no big deal, but it is not a safe management practice by any measure.

If you take fish out of the wild they probably should not be returned after a month (random length, no data) of captivity. Give them to another aquarist or eat them, but don't turn them loose, please.

How big is the risk? Much greater than the lost lives of the individuals sacrificed.

Yeah, like if that Moray Eel should put his newfound Sense of Entitlement, his discovery of popeye's chicken or his liking for System of a Down into the Indigenous Eel Population, it could be disastrous.

 

[KrisReef]

I thought you weren't allowed to catch wild fish in Hawaii?

Residents can fish, and they can take them out of Hawaii when they move, if the place they are moving to allows it.

FAQ’s

What is pono fishing? How can I fish pono? To fish pono means to fish in a way that’s proper, right, and ethical in order to help sustain healthy fish […]

dlnr.hawaii.gov

 

[MauiAnglerReef]

I’m probably going to get a 180 gallon tank, and I am thinking of going out with a scoop net and catching a yellow tang. I’ll also probably collect a variety of Zoas or any other softies that you are allowed to have. Good luck on catching those fish, Hawaiis reefs are beautiful

You definitely need to research rules and regulations first… as far as I know, it is 100% illegal to do any coral harvesting…

Also, all fish harvesting is currently under review… be careful!

The Hawaii law states that you cannot Take, break or damage any Sand, live rock or STONY corals. The law says nothing about soft corals, so from what I can tell it is allowed.

And about fish collection- the Hawaiian DLNR has paused commercial collection specifically, and you don’t need a permit to collect fish if you are a resident (from what I can tell) if you are not going to sell it.

Thanks for your concern though

 

[MauiAnglerReef]

I’m probably going to get a 180 gallon tank, and I am thinking of going out with a scoop net and catching a yellow tang. I’ll also probably collect a variety of Zoas or any other softies that you are allowed to have. Good luck on catching those fish, Hawaiis reefs are beautiful

You definitely need to research rules and regulations first… as far as I know, it is 100% illegal to do any coral harvesting…

Also, all fish harvesting is currently under review… be careful!

The Hawaii law states that you cannot Take, break or damage any Sand, live rock or STONY corals. The law says nothing about soft corals, so from what I can tell it is allowed.

And about fish collection- the Hawaiian DLNR has paused commercial collection specifically, and you don’t need a permit to collect fish if you are a resident (from what I can tell) if you are not going to sell it.

Thanks for your concern though

 

[Aquarist76]

Keeping wild caught fish in an aquarium is a great thing, but releasing the fish back into the wild (especially after a longer time period -not a day like the eel) is a biosecurity risk/threat to the wild populations that may seem like no big deal, but it is not a safe management practice by any measure.

If you take fish out of the wild they probably should not be returned after a month (random length, no data) of captivity. Give them to another aquarist or eat them, but don't turn them loose, please.

How big is the risk? Much greater than the lost lives of the individuals sacrificed.

Hi. Could you please explain further the risk of catching a wild fish, keeping it in an aquarium with no other types of fish (so it can't catch any new diseases), and then releasing it back into the wild exactly where you found it? Just curious what you find objectionable about that. FYI if I catch any fish I plan on keeping long term, they are not going back into the ocean, I'm keeping them.

Yeah, like if that Moray Eel should put his newfound Sense of Entitlement, his discovery of popeye's chicken or his liking for System of a Down into the Indigenous Eel Population, it could be disastrous.

Also, in terms of the eel, I didn't feed him in the brief time I had him so he didn't get addicted to Popeye's LOL. Me on the other hand, very addicted to Popeyes (and I mean the spicy stuff. The REAL Popeyes chicken. Not that namby-pamby "mild" stuff that's an after thought for people who can't take the heat). LOL. He might have picked up a bit of a liking for Daft Punk though, my bad. I mean what will he do when he finds out they're broken up.

 

[Aquarist76]

I’m probably going to get a 180 gallon tank, and I am thinking of going out with a scoop net and catching a yellow tang. I’ll also probably collect a variety of Zoas or any other softies that you are allowed to have. Good luck on catching those fish, Hawaiis reefs are beautiful

Scoop net might be hard. But you may be a better swimmer and more dexterous than I am. I knew there's no way I'm chasing down some fish. So the net trap is great. Bait it, drop it in, wait. No fish harmed, no heart attack for me. LOL.

 

[Aquarist76]

If anyone catches a potters angelfish…dm me lol

I catch a Potter's anything and it's mine. LOL. Sorry. I'd really love a Potter's wrasse, but would gladly take a Potter's angel.

Once they lift the ban, Potter's angel should be one of the few fish they allow to be caught again. It's the more rare stuff we'll never see ever again.

 

[cdemoss01]

If anyone catches a rusty angelfish DM me lol.

 

[VintageReefer]

I catch a Potter's anything and it's mine. LOL.

Nut uh! You called potters wrasse. I was first to claim the angel.

Sorry. I'd really love a Potter's wrasse,

Yours

but would gladly take a Potter's angel.

Mines. You can be first after you catch mine lol

Once they lift the ban, Potter's angel should be one of the few fish they allow to be caught again. It's the more rare stuff we'll never see ever again.

I know, so disappointing. I got a potters angel years ago, they were like 80$

Now if I want one it’s $1000

In all seriousness, I do hope you catch your wrasse/angel one day. If you catch a second angel and want some cash, hit me up

 

[KrisReef]

Hi. Could you please explain further the risk of catching a wild fish, keeping it in an aquarium with no other types of fish (so it can't catch any new diseases), and then releasing it back into the wild exactly where you found it? Just curious what you find objectionable about that. FYI if I catch any fish I plan on keeping long term, they are not going back into the ocean, I'm keeping them.

Your situation is not a typical one where you feed, house with other fishes and hold for a long exposure period to whatever pathogens we have around us.

I posted about the general rule that if you catch it you should eat it and not possibly infect and release the wild fish.

Also, in terms of the eel, I didn't feed him in the brief time I had him so he didn't get addicted to Popeye's LOL. Me on the other hand, very addicted to Popeyes (and I mean the spicy stuff. The REAL Popeyes chicken. Not that namby-pamby "mild" stuff that's an after thought for people who can't take the heat). LOL. He might have picked up a bit of a liking for Daft Punk though, my bad. I mean what will he do when he finds out they're broken up.

I will not discuss the possible consequences of the cultural contagion that you clearly exposed the eel top.

It was probably so happy to return home and have a yellow tang for lunch.

The ecological implications of moving an eel are likely minuscule but it is also reasonable to think that the eel could have died or killed another eel that moved into its hole while it was partying at your place.

Risk , impact, are all things unknown in these situations. So I propose that less disturbance is better in most situations.

I probably would have brought it home too, at one point in my earlier life. It’s life.

 

[Aquarist76]

Your situation is not a typical one where you feed, house with other fishes and hold for a long exposure period to whatever pathogens we have around us.

I posted about the general rule that if you catch it you should eat it and not possibly infect and release the wild fish.

I will not discuss the possible consequences of the cultural contagion that you clearly exposed the eel top.

It was probably so happy to return home and have a yellow tang for lunch.

The ecological implications of moving an eel are likely minuscule but it is also reasonable to think that the eel could have died or killed another eel that moved into its hole while it was partying at your place.

Risk , impact, are all things unknown in these situations. So I propose that less disturbance is better in most situations.

I probably would have brought it home too, at one point in my earlier life. It’s life.

Yeah, sorry, and not to be rude, but you come off sounding like a bit of a hard butt. I've been doing this for more than a bit (like a decade). I'm not the absolute expert, but I know what I'm doing. I'm a pretty ethical reefer and know how to keep fish alive and healthy. I'm not catching any fish I can't keep alive and healthy (especially in the 12 mins from the ocean to my house). If you're against catching fish to keep, then get out of this hobby cause until we have 100% captive bred, most fish are caught wild. Mine I at least know was caught ethically and without any pain or toxic drugs. I in no way endangered the fish and TBH if the eel got in a fight getting a new home upon return, that's the wild. That kind of crap happens day in day out regardless of whether we're involved or not.

 

[Aquarist76]

Nut uh! You called potters wrasse. I was first to claim the angel.


Yours

Mines. You can be first after you catch mine lol

I know, so disappointing. I got a potters angel years ago, they were like 80$

Now if I want one it’s $1000

In all seriousness, I do hope you catch your wrasse/angel one day. If you catch a second angel and want some cash, hit me up

OK. If I catch a Potter's angel it's yours. I had plenty of opportunity to have one before the ban. Never did because I heard they were a bit finicky and also would eat coral so that was a no no for me. I met a guy today that dives and he says he sees them often. We were at Kokololio Beach Park. He caught a boxfish, toby and unknown fish (wrasse maybe) today but then put them all in a ziplock bag while he dove for more. The boxfish poisoned and killed the other two which was a real bummer. Even I know better than that. He caught a 2nd toby my neighbor wanted so I'm going to set up a saltwater tank for him for it. I didn't go in the water because I'm not a strong swimmer and it was to wavy. Hopefully I'll hang with him again and get some other fish. He's a friend of my neighbor.

I wish I took a picture of the wrasse before it died. I've never seen anything like it and I can't ID it and I've been looking on the internet for the last hour or so. It was about 4 inches and like a gun metal grey with cross striations that were very fine. It has an angularly split faint yellow line coming off the corner of it's mouth and a yellow dot behind the gills, with faintly yellow dorsal and anal fins. I thought it might be a type of parrotfish because the mouth looked a bit chompy and it had a parrotfish type pattern on it's belly but very faint and not colorful.

 

[VintageReefer]

I wish I took a picture of the wrasse before it died. I've never seen anything like it and I can't ID it and I've been looking on the internet for the last hour or so. It was about 4 inches and like a gun metal grey with cross striations that were very fine. It has an angularly split faint yellow line coming off the corner of it's mouth and a yellow dot behind the gills, with faintly yellow dorsal and anal fins. I thought it might be a type of parrotfish because the mouth looked a bit chompy and it had a parrotfish type pattern on it's belly but very faint and not colorful.

@Slocke @i cant think
Wrasse Experts are being summoned!

Can anyone offer suggestions for a wild wrasse seen off Hawaii? Description above. OP very curious to find an ID but we don’t have a pic

 

[i cant think]

I like a challenge! It sounds a lot like a Stethojulis balteata;

Above are more mature females, showing the belly pattern and yellow markings, below is a younger juvenile to show the yellow in the anal/dorsal fins.

If it wasn’t the above, was it a slimline body shape like above or more robust? That will give a clue to either Parrot/Hog or Wrasse

 

[i cant think]

I like a challenge! It sounds a lot like a Stethojulis balteata;

Above are more mature females, showing the belly pattern and yellow markings, below is a younger juvenile to show the yellow in the anal/dorsal fins.

If it wasn’t the above, was it a slimline body shape like above or more robust? That will give a clue to either Parrot/Hog or Wrasse

Man if I hit the nail on the head with that assumption I will be shocked

 

[litsoh]

I’m probably going to get a 180 gallon tank, and I am thinking of going out with a scoop net and catching a yellow tang. I’ll also probably collect a variety of Zoas or any other softies that you are allowed to have. Good luck on catching those fish, Hawaiis reefs are beautiful

You definitely need to research rules and regulations first… as far as I know, it is 100% illegal to do any coral harvesting…

Also, all fish harvesting is currently under review… be careful!

Local caught leathers and zoas are okay to take, but they can’t be attached to any rock

 

[MauiAnglerReef]

I’m probably going to get a 180 gallon tank, and I am thinking of going out with a scoop net and catching a yellow tang. I’ll also probably collect a variety of Zoas or any other softies that you are allowed to have. Good luck on catching those fish, Hawaiis reefs are beautiful

You definitely need to research rules and regulations first… as far as I know, it is 100% illegal to do any coral harvesting…

Also, all fish harvesting is currently under review… be careful!

Local caught leathers and zoas are okay to take, but they can’t be attached to any rock

I scraped the Zoas off the rock and they recovered fine. I didn’t take any sand, and there was no damage to the rock Also, I didn’t know leather corals could be collected, I might have to get some