Maui Tropical Fish Guide: 13 Reef Fish You Can See While Snorkeling in Maui

Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)

Bright, algae‑grazing surgeonfish common on shallow, sunlit reefs and coral gardens; often in loose groups near gentle surge.

• Solid lemon‑yellow, oval “disk” body; small pointed snout and smooth pectoral fin movement when grazing in shallow water.
• Often grazes in loose groups along shallow reef flats and slopes.

• Molokini Crater (boat)
• Coral Gardens
• Kāʻanapali / Black Rock (shore)

• Look, don’t touch or feed; keep fins off coral.
• Give turtles at least 10 ft / 3 m of space.

See it: 5‑hr Morning Molokini Tour

Learn more → Yellow Tang

Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus)

Slender, banded reef fish with a trailing dorsal ribbon; patrols reef edges and drop‑offs, usually solo or in pairs.

• Bold black‑white‑yellow bands with a long trailing dorsal streamer and a narrow white mouth used to peck at small invertebrates tucked into coral cracks.
• Slender snout for pecking in crevices.

• Molokini Crater
• Coral Gardens
• Honolua Bay (calm days)

• Move slowly; never chase for photos.

See it: Molokini Crater Snorkeling

Learn more → Moorish Idol Fish in Maui

Humuhumunukunukuapuaʻa (Reef Triggerfish)

Hawaiʻi’s state fish; a bold, wedge‑patterned trigger that cruises sandy patches by coral heads and will defend a nest if crowded.

• Beige body with bold black wedges, white bars, and electric blue/yellow accents.
• “Stop‑and‑go” swim; can lock into crevices with a dorsal “trigger.”

• Molokini Crater
• Turtle Town
• Black Rock

• If it flares fins or “tilts” at you, back away; triggers defend nests.
• Never feed fish; it harms reef behavior.

Learn more → Humuhumu (State Fish) Guide

Butterflyfish (multiple species)

Small, disk‑shaped coral specialists; look for paired fish pecking at coral and invertebrates around heads and ledges.

• Thin, disk‑shaped bodies with high dorsal fin; bright patterns.
• Quick cues: Raccoon, Longnose, Teardrop, Bluestripe (endemic), Milletseed.

• Molokini Crater
• Coral Gardens
• Honolua Bay

• Hands off coral; keep a gentle kick to avoid stirring sand.

Learn more → Ornate Butterflyfish

Parrotfish (Scaridae; various)

Powerful grazers that scrape algae with a beak‑like mouth; you’ll hear the crunch and see “sand snow” where they feed.

• Blue/green/purple hues; fused “beak‑like” teeth scraping algae from rock/coral.
• Thick oval body; often seen biting and excreting sand.

• Coral Gardens
• Molokini Crater
• West Maui reefs

• Observe quietly; never chase feeding fish.

Learn more → Parrotfish in Maui (Uhu)

Bluefin Trevally (Caranx melampygus)

A fast jack with electric‑blue fins; often shadows schools along the outer reef and strikes quickly near drop‑offs.

• Metallic body with blue‑spotted flanks and vivid electric‑blue fins- an ocean hunter that roams both reefs and the open water.
• Fast, cruising hunter along drop‑offs and reef edges.

• Molokini Crater
• Black Rock & Honolua (calm days)

• Give hunters room; don’t pursue schooling fish they’re chasing.

Learn more → Best Places to Snorkel in Maui

Lagoon Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus)

Compact trigger that hugs shallow sand‑and‑rubble zones; watch for sudden darting into burrows when startled.

• Striking face “mask,” dark mid‑bar, and geometric pastel accents.
• Low, tight finning over sand and rubble; darts into holes when spooked.

• Turtle Town
• Coral Gardens
• Molokini (inner rim)

• Triggers guard nests; maintain space and avoid sudden moves.

Learn more → Another common triggerfish: Black Triggerfish

Angelfish (Pomacanthidae; various)

Elegant reef cruisers with tall fins; commonly seen in pairs weaving above coral heads on gentle slopes.

• Tall, disk‑shaped fish with flowing dorsal/anal fins; bold patterns.
• Often cruise just above coral heads in pairs.

• Molokini Crater
• Coral Gardens
• Honolua Bay

• Keep hands to yourself; never touch or stand on coral.

Learn more → Why Coral Gardens is great for angelfish

Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus)

Endemic wrasse that runs “cleaning stations.” Hover and you’ll see larger fish lining up for a parasite pick‑off.

• Golden to yellow body with a bold black stripe running eye‑to‑tail.
• Seen “picking” parasites off clients at cleaning stations.

• Turtle Town (cleaning spots)
• Molokini Crater

• Don’t block cleaning stations or reach toward fish; observe quietly.

Learn more → Turtle Town & cleaning stations

Hawaiian Sergeant (Abudefduf abdominalis)

Stocky damselfish with five bars; gathers near rocky points and surge channels, often over shallow reef.

• Silver body with five bold vertical bars; deep damselfish shape.
• Often near surge channels and rocky points in small schools.

• Kāʻanapali / Black Rock
• Coral Gardens

• Skip the snacks. Never feed fish; it disrupts reef balance.

Learn more → Reef fish you might see

Convict Tang (“Manini”) (Acanthurus triostegus)

Striped schoolers that “mow” algae carpets across the reef; big groups glide in unison in calm bays.

• Pale silver with bold black vertical stripes; oval “surgeonfish” body.
• Glides in large schools, lawn‑mowing algae across the reef.

• Molokini Crater
• Turtle Town
• Coral Gardens

• Give schools space; avoid splitting a feeding group.

Learn more → Convict Tang (Manini)

Boxfish (Ostraciidae; various)

Angular, armored swimmers that hover over coral and sand; males and females can look strikingly different.

• Rigid, box‑like body of hexagonal plates.
• Males vs. females often show very different patterns.

• Coral Gardens
• Honolua Bay
• Molokini

• Admire from a distance; never corner or handle wildlife.

Learn more → More Maui marine life. Another unusual reef fish to watch for is the spot-fin porcupinefish in Maui, which is easiest to identify when its small black spots continue onto the fins.

Moray Eel (Muraenidae; various)

Nocturnal ambush predators peeking from crevices; the open‑close mouth is breathing, not aggression.

• Snake‑like body with head protruding from holes; rhythmic open/close mouth is breathing.

• Among lava ledges and coral heads across Maui (e.g., crater walls, boulder fields).

• Never reach into holes or under ledges; give eels generous space.

Learn more → Moray Eels in Maui