Latest Hanauma Bay Newsletter Input

HOBBY


I’ve been visually privy to a lot of symbiosis ‘sighting’ as of late. I’ve seen Jacks following Manybar Goatfish in hopes of the Goatfish ‘flushing’ out a meal for the Jack to snag. I’ve also recently spied a Jack following an Octopus around, again in hopes that the foraging Octopus willstirr up a fleeing finned pupu for the Jack to snack on. These Jacks also follow Bonefish.

Just about any critter who forages by ‘rooting’ around rocks or sticking their heads into holes is a candidate partner for the Jack. Even the Moray Eel becomes an instant ‘pal’ to the Jack because he’s gonna eventually stick his head into a hole and the resident fish is gonna sneak out the back door. Hopefully, into the waiting arms (err fins) of the Jack.

Now, having stated what I’ve seen on a near daily basis over the last several years about this symbiosis, I can literally count on one fin (err hand) the actual number of occasions where I’ve seen the Jacks actually ‘score’ a meal while involved in this one-sided (commensally) symbiotic relationship. This leads me to think that the Jacks have much too much time on their hands (err fins) because they are near the top of the food chain.

When you’re an apex predator like them, literally swimming in an aquarium chock full of potential MREs, (that’s ‘meals ready to eat,’ for you non-military types) you don’t have to expend a whole lotta energy to get chow. Kinda like a teenager with an unlimited MacDonald’s charge card. When you’re hungry, you eat! Soo, I’m thinking that these Jacks need something to fill the day and have collectively embraced what we would call a hobby!

Their hobby involves following these hapless partners, be they Bonefish, Goatfish, Octopus or Moray, to ‘occasionally’ snatch a quick ‘bite’ to eat. Kinda like us munching on snacks throughout the day (pass the Pringles please) to help pass the time.

Their hobby can also be compared to our working out at 24-Hour Fitness! It’s healthful in that it involves a lot of swimming, good for the cardio system, and always a key recommendation from all my Doctors. (Swimming, my Docs say, is good for you!) You’re also staying hydrated by drinking all that water! Soo, the next time you see a Jack doing his symbiotic thing with a hapless partner, think hobby!

Why this you ask? Hey, when you’re working with fins as your only appendage, you’re limited! You can’t paint, do needlework, play the piano or be the lead guitar in a garage band! Hmm, come to think of it, I can’t do any of those things either! Guess that’s why I swim! Aloha as always, Larry Winnik