Six acoustic snapshots of spawning hoki abundance in Cook Strait were carried out from FV Thomas Harrison and FV Independent 1 between 18 July and 27 August 2011. Acoustic abundance estimates calculated using an average ratio of hoki weight to target strength ranged from 154 000 t to 429 000 t, with an average of 269 000 t (c.v. 35%). Biological data were collected from 27 trawls. Hoki from the Narrows Basin were predominantly male and were smaller (mean length 63 cm) than hoki from the main Cook Strait Canyon (mean length 79 cm).