Fish Identification Photos: Rainbow Chub or Rainbow Sea Chub, Sectator ocyurus: The Rainbow Chub or Rainbow Sea Chub is characterized by its bright blue midlateral stripe with a yellow stripe immediately below it, a blue band along the base of the dorsal fin, a bright yellow, deeply forked caudal fin, and the white coloration on its lower parts.

It is similar to and can be confused with the Rainbow Runner, Elagatis bipinnulata, but is far less "aerodynamic."

The Rainbow Chub or Rainbow Sea Chub is a member of the Kyphosidae or Sea Chub, Nibbler, and Halfmoon Family.

The Rainbow Chub or Rainbow Sea Chub is pelagic and found on the Pacific coast of Baja California, Mexico. It is generally absent from the Sea of Cortez, and in mainland Mexico it is found from Mazatlan south, and around all oceanic islands. The Rainbow Chub or Rainbow Sea Chub is found in the first 100 feet of the water column.

Other chub-like species found in Mexican waters include: the Striped Sea Chub or Blue Bronze Sea Chub, Kyphosus analogous; the California Halfmoon, Medialuna californiensis; the Cortez Chub, Kyphosus elegans; and the Zebra Sea Chub, Hermosilla azurea.

The Rainbow Chub or Rainbow Sea Chub is reported to reach over two feet in length.

Rainbow Chub or Rainbow Sea Chub, Sectator ocyurus: Caught with Capt. Pata in panga Salome, La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, in 70-degree water, midmorning in February 2004, near the surface several miles out at sea, utilizing a 30-pound test fish finder rig (mainline, 0.5-ounce barrel sinker, swivel, more mainline, Mustad 92553 hook, size 2/0), on live red tuna crabs.  Size approximately 19 inches and approximately 12 pounds, and was very “scrappy.”  This fish was caught at 23.1N 109.2W and the previously known most northerly and westerly location, as reported by Dr. Ross Robertson, Smithsonian Institute, Panama, was at 22.5N 109.6W, approximately 40 miles to the south and 40 miles to the west.  Viewed by locals as an obscure species that could not be named by several individuals. Photo courtesy John Snow.