Whilst the moki has always been a respected and sought-after species in some parts of the country (Wellington in particular), it is only in recent years that it has gained the recognition it is worthy of. 

Since moki are largely absent from northern parts of the North Island, a large percentage of keen anglers have no access to them.

Being a southern (and primarily east coast) species, a moki’s home territory is vulnerable to southerly storms and rapidly dropping water temperatures. When winter sets in moki go on long spawning runs and generally inhabit deep water. For this reason the surfcasting season for moki lasts 6-9 months, depending on exactly where in the country you are.

The first serious southerly storms in autumn trigger moki into feeding activity designed to sustain them through winter and the long spawning run. Normally this occurs in April (as I write we are experiencing our first truly cold outbreak of weather for the year) and when the southerlies become more regular and brutal in late autumn and early winter, moki leave their home range and head into deeper water. 

Before the spawning run, in May and even into June, some really big moki patrol the beaches and this is the time to catch a trophy sized fish – over 5kg and up to 8kg if you get really lucky. With the benefit of their pre-spawning feeding activities these fish are fat and in peak condition.

Amongst these bigger fish are usually some school-sized models also waiting for the final signal from nature to begin the spawning run – these smaller fish can keep you entertained while you wait for Mr. Big to show up. If you are really keen on getting a big one patience will be required – they didn’t get big without becoming cunning. Catching a moki over 5kg probably requires about the same amount of pre-planning, skill and persistence that goes into catching a 20lb snapper in other parts of the country. So how should you go about it?

For a start it pays to target locations with a track record for producing big moki. Whilst many beaches hold moki, not all of them hold big moki. In my local waters around Wellington there are locations known for producing school-sized fish in numbers, and others which are known for producing fewer but bigger fish. This is no different to snapper when you think about it. Wainuiomata Beach, about 45 minutes from Wellington, is a fairly accessible, reliable producer of big moki, whereas other beaches east and west are better known for numbers of fish.

As I’ve mentioned previously, moki are shellfish eaters so baits like mussel, crab, crayfish, paua gut and tuatua work a treat. I’ve caught my biggest moki on crab and cray baits and a friend of mine (and very good moki fisherman) swears by these baits when chasing big moki. Whilst he’s caught dozens of moki on mussel bait he reckons the biggest went not much more than 3.5kg. I’d suggest taking a few different shellfish baits to experiment with what your local moki population prefers.

Big moki tend to inhabit rough, foul ground and will head straight into it when hooked. For this reason I recommend using heavy mainline (15kg) and 30kg trace. Most of these big fish are caught after dark or during low-light periods, so a stealthy visual approach is not required. The ideal time to fish in most locations is during a tide rising to high after dark.

I also recommend a stiff surf rod and relatively heavy-duty reel – long casts are not required to reach moki so a longcast spool design is not required. Some anglers I know who target big moki in amongst very rough ground use LBG livebaiting rods and set their drags up tight, to prevent hooked fish from reaching rock and weed. When fishing in this way it is imperative to stay close to your rods – big moki runs are fast and furious and quite capable of pulling a rod, reel and poorly set rod spike into the tide. You will also be loading a lot of pressure onto your rod tip by virtue of the size and speed of the fish and the close quarters hook-ups – so check your mainline, shock leaders and traces regularly for nicks.

Berley can be very effective in drawing moki into the area – in fact I know of some Wellington surfcasters who ‘pre-berley’ their moki spots in the days leading up to a fishing session to get them in the habit of turning up! Berleying for moki from the beach – where most moki fishing is done – is easier than you might expect. Fairly flat seas are generally required to fish effectively and this, allied to their preference for steep rocky beaches, means frozen chunks of shellfish berley can simply be thrown into the tide to bob around and thaw out in the strike zone.

Once hooked, big moki (and moki in general) are capable of scorching runs and will pull line from a firmly set drag, especially early in the fight. They use their broad flanks to oppose pressure from the angler and tend to zig-zag around out in front. Capable of swimming around in very shallow water, they are also masters at making slack line and spitting the hook. Even on their sides in the wash they flap around aggressively and can manoeuvre about; given that moki frequently inhabit very shallow water this is likely to be nature’s deliberate design.

Organisation is critical to maximising your results on moki. Shellfish baits are mucky and difficult to tie so pre-cottoning 30 or 40 before you leave home will help you to rotate your baits quickly on the beach – often essential because moki territory is frequently swarming with small ‘picker’ fish which will destroy your beautifully-tied baits in minutes if the mood takes them. Lice can also be a problem after dark: it is not uncommon to retrieve completely bare hooks less than 10 minutes after casting them out. I’m not convinced that big baits are necessary to catch big moki, but sending out big baits will keep you in business for longer and put more scent in the water. They will also keep smaller moki at bay if you are exclusively focused on catching a big one.

Depending on your fishing scenario, you could also consider an ultra-stealthy approach – this could be particularly useful on still nights in remote locations. Remembering that most moki are caught on very short casts – often less than 20m from the angler – it can be worthwhile minimising the use of your headlamp and minimising your noise. Divers have told me that they have heard surfcasters placing their rod spikes on gravel beaches – if they can hear it then moki can too.

Catching a really big moki generally takes a dedicated effort – a generalist approach may catch you more fish but it is unlikely to catch you a big one. Once achieved, it is a genuine fishing achievement, taking into account the wariness and relative scarcity of your quarry. Add to that the power of the fish and the difficult terrain they’re found in. What better challenge could a surfcaster want? And right now is the best time of year to try.