Fishing for moi, or Pacific threadfin, will be off limits from June through August in Hawaiian waters, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The ban begins Thursday.
According to the department, moi is the only fish in Hawaii belonging to the genus Polydactylus, which is Greek for “many fingers.” The “fingers” are actually six filaments extending from the base of each pectoral fin.
The species is one of the relatively few Hawaiian fish to undergo sex reversal, changing from male to female by the time it reaches about 10 inches long.
“Moi is one of Hawaii’s most significant fish species, from a cultural perspective,” said Bruce Anderson, administrator of the department’s Division of Aquatic Resources. “In ancient times, it was reserved only for chiefs; commoners were forbidden to eat it. But if moi suddenly appeared in large numbers, chiefs considered it an omen of disaster.”
Today, moi is one of the most sought-after reef fish, Anderson said.
The ban on fishing moi gives the species’ population a chance to recover during its critical summer spawning period.
“We ask for the fishing public’s kokua in complying with the closed season and protecting our ocean resources,” he said.
Early Hawaiians also placed a kapu, or prohibition, on certain fish during their spawning season as a conservation measure.
During the open season, from September through May, the minimum size for taking a moi is 11 inches. The bag limit for possession and/or sale is 15. However, a commercial marine dealer may possess and sell more than 15 moi during the open season with receipts issued for the purchase.
Copies of Hawaii’s fishing regulations are available at Aquatic Resources Division offices, most fishing supply stores and online at dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/fishing/fishing-regulations.
To report fishing violations, call 643-3567.
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