Common Tuna-bait Fishes of the Central Pacific

Book excerpt: The pole-and-line fishery for tunas is dependent upon an adequate supply of live bait for use as chum to attract and hold schools of fish. The present work is designed for the practical field identification of the more common tuna-bait fishes found in the central Pacific region, which for purposes of this report includes the waters surrounding the Hawaiian, northern Line, and Phoenix Island groups. Presented are illustrated keys to the families and species, with descriptions and notes on distribution, and an evaluation of the tuna-bait resources of the central Pacific region with a description of each potentially important baiting area. An index of scientific, English, Hawaiian, and Gilbertese names of the various fishes considered concludes the report.