The variety of species available to saltwater fishermen in New Zealand is virtually limitless, especially if you are prepared to vary your tactics and search out fish in difficult terrain. 

Arguably this is as true of land-based saltwater fishing as it is boat fishing, and I’ve been lucky to catch some unusual species from land-based positions. Although some of these fish have turned up in surfcasting scenarios over clean bottoms – hammerhead and blue sharks for example – the species I want to focus on here are those that turn up around the rocks and wharves because these tend to be sanctuaries for a wider range of species. These places appear to attract a higher percentage of ‘odd species’.

I’m going to provide a few examples of odd species that turn up from time to time, but before I do, here are some general tips on the techniques that help to bring them in (which might be especially useful for those ‘species list’ enthusiasts keen on expanding their numbers. The following techniques have built up over the years on annual trips away with mates, where a ‘different species trophy’ is always at stake, claimed by the angler who catches the greatest variety for the trip. (Whilst our focus is always on catching big snapper, trevally and kingfish, there is always a bit of ‘downtime’ on slow fishing days to target, for example, species such as red moki and pigfish.)

Most of these species are relatively small, reef-dwelling species that are usually shy biters and have a preference for shellfish bait. Capture tends to be preceded by sighting the fish in a berley trail (plenty of berley always helps) and then repeatedly presenting baits - until one angler has the presence of mind to drop down to a very small hook size (1/0 or smaller) and remove all weight. 

A small stray-lined bait generally solicits a higher degree of interest from the fish, but even then it may take a shellfish bait or a very thin sliver of fish skin or fish bait to attract a bite. 

This is precisely the scenario I’ve seen time and again on the rocks and wharves before an odd species has been captured – a red moki, pigfish or parore, to name just three.

Red moki

Although not related to blue moki, the red moki does have a similar body form. Red moki are a rock-dwelling species and are fairly widespread – I’ve seen them turn up in Northland, Bay of Plenty and Wellington – but they are usually solitary in their habits. 

Red moki are definitely shy and tend to hang back in the berley trail, showing no interest in any baits bigger than your thumb. However, once the technique described above is used, they can start actively hunting your bait, and give a strong, darting fight on light gear (which is what you’ll need to use to hook them). The fish I’ve seen caught have all been around the 1kg mark.

Pigfish 

Pigfish tend to show up in much the same way as red moki and fall for the same tricks, but I haven’t bumped into them as often. However, I do have a secret pigfish spot in Great Exhibition Bay in Northland which has produced a few ‘monster’ specimens in the 2kg range. At this size, on light spinning gear, pigfish fight about same as a snapper of similar size. 

One thing I would stress about this species is that it doesn’t survive well out of the water, so take your photo quickly and get it back in the briny as fast as you can. It’s gut-wrenching to see one of these beautiful fish floating belly up after returning to the water after too long out. Believe me, I’ve done it.

Butterfish

The butterfish, one of New Zealand’s favourite eating fish, tends to be a target for spear fishermen, but most line anglers have given them up as impossible to catch. Not so! While they are incredibly line shy, butterfish will take a small hook baited with shellfish or weed. 

Unweighted baits or baits cast into weedy areas under a float are two methods known for catching them, but – you guessed it – this generally involves tough fishing, and it seems only a small number of South Island anglers practice them. I’ve been lucky enough to catch two butterfish on a line, but some anglers will call me a cheat: I caught them off the famous Waitangi Wharf on Chatham Island, where the water is teeming with all manner of fish. Unweighted crayfish baits on 1/0 hooks were used in both cases.

Trumpeter

Trumpeter are a comparatively common reef-dwelling species taken mostly by boat anglers from Wellington south. Generally hooked over rugged, deep reefs, they tend to be caught in relatively small numbers by boat anglers, but smaller specimens in the 1-2kg range are available to land-based anglers who find and successfully fish gnarly rock-fishing possies in places such as the Otago Peninsula and Stewart Island. 

A mate of mine, Richy Cryer, made an art form of catching these fantastic fish from seaside cliffs in the South Island, and holds the NZACA land-based all-tackle record for trumpeter. 
More usual bottom fishing techniques are effective on trumpeter; the hard part is finding them, then extracting them from usually difficult country.

Porae

Porae – not to be confused with the weed-eating parore – are another species caught occasionally by rock fishermen. My earliest encounter was about 10 years ago off the rocks at East Cape. Having never seen one before, I thought I’d caught a strange snapper/tarakihi hybrid – tarakihi for the shape and snapper for the colour (though they tend to be browner than the average snapper). 

Over the years I’ve heard of other rock fishermen pulling up the odd porae at East Cape and Coromandel. Mine was around the 1kg mark, but others have been up to 3-4kg in size. Similar to trumpeter, catching them doesn't seem to require particularly sophisticated fishing techniques - the usual bottom-fishing techniques like those used to catch snapper will suffice.

Others 

A few more oddities I’ve seen in my time include the demoiselle (a small, blue reef species), parore and grey mullet. 

Whilst parore and grey mullet are comparatively common and regularly observed, they are extremely fussy feeders, so a successful capture is a real achievement. Thinking back, I’m sure I read some excellent articles from Craig Worthington on catching both; it certainly makes sense - a delicate art like saltwater fly fishing would raise the odds of catching these species. 

Although I’ve not been lucky enough to catch any myself, I hear parore are commonly taken surfcasting from Ninety Mile Beach on shellfish baits. I can see why this would happen, as shellfish baits and turbulent waters can be a great ally in attracting bites from fussy-feeding fish.

There is something quite special about catching a new species for the first time. There's the surprise, followed by the novelty of observing something new, and then, if you’ve specifically targeted it, the satisfaction of fooling a wary adversary. 

Many of the species that fit the qualities described above are comparatively rare and don’t make great eating, so I’d suggest a quick photo followed by careful release is the way to go. It would be great to still be catching these fish in years to come. 

If really keen, you might devote time to catching some of these species. With some persistence you will catch some, and while using the delicate techniques described above, you’ll get a few nice surprises along the way, too. As the saying goes, small hooks can still catch big fish - you’ll likely fool other fish (such as good snapper) while implementing your species-collecting techniques.