The title of the smartest fish goes to the manta ray! They have some impressive brainpower:
Big brain, big smarts: Mantas boast the largest brain of any fish. Relative to their body size, it's quite comparable to what you'd see in intelligent mammals.
Learning and memory: These gentle giants can learn and remember complex tasks, even collaborating with each other to solve problems.
Communication skills: Mantas are known to communicate with each other through a variety of body language and vocalizations.
Playful and curious: Their playful nature and curiosity further suggest a level of intelligence beyond just instinctual behavior.
Possible self-awareness: There's even some evidence that manta rays might recognize themselves in mirrors, a sign of self-awareness that's uncommon in the animal kingdom.