pilot fish
A marine fish (Naucrates ductor) often seen swimming near sharks, ships, or large marine animals. The Japanese name literally means 'false yellowtail'.
Pilot fish are known for swimming near sharks.
We saw a school of pilot fish near the boat.
Kanji spelling is rare and may not be widely recognized; the word is usually written in kana.
Compound of ブリ (yellowtail) + もどき (pseudo-, imitation). The name reflects a perceived resemblance to yellowtail, though the two are not closely related.