Commercial fishing statistics for 4 east coast ports, Gisborne, Napier, Wellington, and Kaikoura, were analysed for seasonal changes in moki abundance. Moki from commercial catches at Gisborne and Kaikoura were sampled for sex, body and gonad weight, and reproductive status. A small‐scale tagging programme was carried out at Kaikoura. Commercial catches of moki were strongly seasonal, with abundance peaks occurring in August‐September at Gisborne, June‐July and September‐October at Napier, September‐October at Wellington, and May‐June and October at Kaikoura. Moki were resting or developing reproductively in May‐June at Kaikoura, ripe and spawning in August‐September at Gisborne, and spent in October at Kaikoura. At Kaikoura the sex ratio in catches was 1: 1 during both abundance peaks, but at Gisborne males outnumbered females 4: 1 in early August, with the sex ratio declining to 1: 1 by mid September. Moki eggs are smooth and spherical with a non‐segmented yolk and a single oil drop. They can be distinguished from copper moki (L.forsteri) eggs on the basis of oil drop diameter.