Under the Water Fish Behaviour – A Pictorial

Getting a camera into the middle of feeding fish is not easy, usually it takes many attempts and when you do you only get a few seconds of footage. The fish don't seem to be bothered by the camera though most will look at it as they swim past.  The results are worth it, and they give you an understanding of how each type of fish feed and you can adjust your techniques to suit.  So here for the first time ever are pictures showing whats going on underneath some of those feeding fish you see on the surface.




Giant Trevally

Giant Trevally travel in large schools, the bulk of the school stays below and helps to drive the bait, individual fish hit the surface then vertically crash dive down 2-3 metres to swallow the food.  When not herding bait they hold close to the bottom.

Bigeye Trevally

Bigeye Trevally travel in large schools near the surface to drive the bait then attack en masse swallowing the bait as they go, once the bait is scattered they dive down deep and school mid water.

Tailor

Tailor drive the bait school from below up to the surface then individuals or a part of the school attack the bait, chopped pieces of bait drift back down through the water column to be picked up by part of the school below.

Yellowtail Kingfish

Yellowtail Kingfish hunt as singles or part of a small school.  Their feeding style is slow and methodical and what I call mooching.  Basically spotting some bait near the surface then coming up with a big open mouth and taking a mouthful then going back down.

And just for something interesting here's some manta rays that have been doing the rounds lately.

Still on the to photograph list.. Tuna, Bonito, Mackerel, Queenfish.