Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) マンボウ – size 330cm
Ocean Sunfish are rare in Hawaii this only the second one that I had ever seen. The first was near San Diego where I think they are more common. They were once considered as the largest plankton, just drifting along with the currents. This one was hard to stay close enough to get a picture with a boat. Kauai 2016
Ocean Sunfish can swim. Their caudle fin is pretty much useless, but the dorsal and anal fins are large and can move the fish. They do often just lay on the surface. They can get enough speed to breach clear of the water. They also move vertically in the water column. They feed on the bottom and in the water column. Kauai 2016
A closer look at the Ocean Sunfish’s dorsal fin which with the anal fin it uses to swim. Kauai 2016