with the power of gliding flight.

And if we want to get a close look at these amazing fish and their special fins, the best time to do it is at night.

Flying fish are attracted to light because their natural food is often near the surface of the water where it's brightest.

So, if we make the area around our boat really bright, the flying fish might actually come to us.

Flying fish usually feed at night on microscopic animals called plankton, and small fish.

So, what we're going to do is chum the water with a frozen block of tiny little bits of food to attract them.

Flying fish swim in schools of up to one million fish, but we'd be happy if we caught just one!

Over there!

Yeah, we got one!

All right, a flying fish!

Whew.

Let's get him nice and safe and comfy in this hold right here.

He's beautiful!

MARTIN: This is a little flying fish, but flying fish can grow to be about this long.

Wow, look at these long pectoral fins on the flying fish.

They are so long, they really are like wings!

They give the flying fish the power to glide.

You can really see it in slow motion when they spread those fins out, lifting the fish right into the air.

Hey, buddy, let's see your tail fin.

The bottom part is really long and stiff.

That's the motor that powers the fish through take-off at 70 swishes per second.

You can see the bottom part of the fin dipped in the water, giving that all-important final power boost.

CHRIS: Flying power for a fish is not only cool, it's a great anti-predator defense, because if a tuna, swordfish or dolphin is after him, a flying fish just zips out of the water and into the air, and the predator loses track of him.

All right, buddy, thanks for letting us have a close look at you!

Time to head back home, living free and in the wild.

Happy flying!

Keep on creature adventuring!

We'll see you on the creature trail!