Red Moki

RED MOKI

Goniistius spectabilis

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DESCRIPTION:

Putting this fish amongst the non-target species is perhaps a little controversial:  I doubt there is a spearo in the country who didn't cut his teeth on red moki and they are edible...especially smoked or in curries.  They are however a very long-lived fish - up to 60 years!, mate for life and pose almost no challenge whatsoever to a spearo and therefore fail the Wild Blue face-full-of-steel test.

The red moki is a large fish with the general shape of a snapper but with a more pointed head.  It has 8 red-brown vertical stripes on the body and fins against a background of purple/brown.  These stripes do seem to fade with age and some appear a uniform coppery-red.

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