Snorkel Hawaii - Surgeonfish

Average Weight/Length

Max length : 27.0 cm TL male/unsexed; common length : 17.0 cm TL male/unsexed

Other "Popular" Names for this Fish

Convict Tang, Manini

Location Habitat

Manini are found along most shorelines in Hawai'i. Their young are often found in tidepools and at the waters edge. Manini are often seen in large schools grazing on the reef. If you ever get the opportunity to see them graze, look for other territorial fish trying to scare them away. They are also a sight to see while traveling in great numbers, resembling a parade making its way along the the reef. Adults occur in lagoon and seaward reefs with hard substrate; young abundant in tide pools. Benthopelagic. Often feeding near freshwater run-offs where certain algae grow on rocks that are grazed. Occasionally form schools; feed on filamentous algae in large aggregations. During spawning, clouds of eggs and sperm are preyed upon by eagle rays which are often present during spawning. Form spawning aggregations. Size of metamorphosis from post-larva stage to juvenile is 3.2 cm

Biology & Physical Description

Manini are light greenish in color with 6 black stripes running down its body. It is sometimes mistaken for k?pipi or mamo which have similar stripes along the body. Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 22-26; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 19 - 22. Body olivaceous gray, with 4 vertical stripes (1 stripe on head across the yellow eye; 1 on caudal peduncle); shading to white ventrally, often with a sharp line of demarcation. Sharp, forward-pointing, erectile spine on each side of caudal peduncle which folds down into a groove. Scales minute. Teeth with denticulations on sides and top. Gill rakers 18-22 in anterior row, 19-24 in posterior row. Are found in nice schools of twenty or so as they dart in and out of the reef. As with the rest of the tangs, they are herbivores, living on seaweed and algae.

Life Cycle & Mating Behavior

Form spawning aggregations

Geographic Species Map (Fishbase.org Map)

Summary of Distribution: Indo-Pacific: throughout the region except for the seas around the Arabian Peninsula. Eastern Pacific: lower Gulf of California to Panama, including the Revillagigedo, Cocos, Clipperton, and Galapagos islands.

Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org)

Sport Fishing Techniques

	Drifting Drift fishing allows you to fish over a variety of habitats as your boat drifts with the currents or wind movement. You can drift fish on the bottom or change the depth with a bobber or float. Natural baits work best. But jigs, lures and artificial flies will produce good results, too. You can drift fish on the ocean, as well as ponds, lakes, rivers and streams any time of the day and year..

	Still Fishing The simplest of fishing methods can also be the most effective. Still-fishing is a matter of putting your bait in the water and waiting for a fish to find it. Depending on water depth and what you’re trying to catch, you may want to still-fish near the surface, at a mid-water depth, or right down on the bottom. Using a float, or bobber, makes it easy to fish near the surface, or you can add sinkers to your line to fish deeper. Still fishing is a versatile way to go. You can do it from a pier, a bridge, an anchored boat or from shore. You can still fish on the bottom or off the bottom in ponds, lakes, rivers and streams for a variety of species. And you can still fish during most seasons and during any part of the day. You have to be very patient. You need to wait for the fish to bite. Still fishing is a versatile way to go. You can do it from a pier, a bridge, an anchored boat or from shore. You can still fish on the bottom in ponds, lakes, rivers and streams for a variety of species. .

Food Rating

Game Rating : 8/10

Game Description :

The Hawaiians salted and dried the small manini and traded them as a source of fish for inland communities.

Picture (Fish)

Surgeonfish - Convict