Eating local doesn’t get much better than fish fresh from our South Island seas.

Early each morning, a shipment of fish fresh from the West Coast waters comes in to the team at Theo’s Fisheries in Riccarton Road. One of the standouts is the spectacular-looking moonfish, red and black and flat as a pancake. Theo’s Fisheries has been in operation for 70 years, ever since Theo Papageorge settled here after striking up friendships with Kiwi soldiers during World War Two. They currently have four generations of fresh fish experts manning the store, so when they say moonfish is one to try, we believe them.

Moonfish is reeled in from over 300 metres deep, in the Tasman Sea off the coast of Greymouth. It has dark red flesh, similar to tuna, and can be grilled, smoked or used in sashimi. The team at Theo’s love whacking it on the grill, and seasoning it with simple ingredients – just crushed garlic, salt, lemon and olive oil.

theosfisheries.co.nz