"When he did so, it appears that his leg rope has become entangled in the rocks and due to the heavy seas running it appears that he's struggled to release the leg rope.''
Other surfers noticed the 60-year-old was in trouble, went to his aid and brought him ashore unconscious.
Paramedics arrived a short time later and tried to revive Mr Moody but he died at the scene.
Inspector Gillet says the area is a population surfing location.
Moody worked for The Radio Network in Wellington and was the voice of Wellington and All Blacks rugby for the best part of two decades.
He also covered a number of Commonwealth and Olympic Games as well as many other sports.
Among the many All Black tests he called, he commentated the All Blacks' famous first series win against the Springboks in South Africa in 1996.
Known as 'Moods', he was Newstalk ZB's breakfast sports anchor at the time of his death.
Quinn: Moody a 'much admired and loved bloke'
Sports broadcaster Keith Quinn said Moody "was a friendly guy and it came through in his work".
"He was very good at it, he was enthusiastic, he got excited at the right times and had a very good knowledge of how the game was played well, because he played it well himself," Quinn said.
Moody was a senior club rugby player both in Wellington and Auckland, which gave him insight into the game.
"He was the number one caller for radio for many years. He actually stopped [going on All Black tours] because he didn't enjoy the travel so much because he was away from home so often. He was a real home guy, which is a great credit to him, I believe."
Quinn said Moody was "very committed to the things that he really believed in" - his wife, his job, and sport.
"He was very much admired and loved bloke, because I never heard say anything bad about anyone. I think the worst thing he ever said about anyone was 'he's a good bugger'. He was one of those good Kiwi men who spoke like that."
Waddle: "It's just numbing"
Long time friend and colleague Brian Waddle told Newstalk ZB he had known Moody for 47 years and their careers had followed similar paths.
"It's just numbing, it's hard to believe," Waddle said.
"He loved his surfing, he spent a lot of time surfing.
"He also loved his rugby, he was a great rugby player as well.
"And he loved his wife. Those were the three passions of his life."
Waddle said he had a gift for broadcasting, and never knew Moody to have received any abusive emails or text from listeners.
"He was respected - his opinion was listened to," he said.
TRN operations manager in Wellington Jason Pine told listeners Moody will be "greatly missed and never forgotten".
"His colleagues remember his constant smile, his humility, his generosity and his wonderful, wonderful sense of humour."
"Rest in peace, Graeme"
TRN talk programming general manager Dallas Gurney said Moody's death is a big shock for the company, but especially the tight team in Wellington.
He said Graeme Moody was an iconic Wellington broadcaster.
Colleague Matt Brown said Moody "will be sorely missed as a friend and colleague, and as the best rugby commentator out there".
Radio Sport morning broadcaster Tony Veitch told listeners the youthful Moody "had a rockstar look to him", and paid tribute to the broadcaster on Twitter.
"Radio Sport has lost one of the good buggers. My thoughts with the family of Graeme Moody. You will be missed..." he wrote.
Wellington Classic hits broadcaster Camille Guzzwell wrote on Twitter that Moody was "an incredible broadcasting legend with a wicked sense of humour who will be sorely missed. RIP Graeme Moody".
Listeners also paid tribute on Twitter.
"Terribly sad news that Graeme Moody has passed away. A champion rugby commentator who basically introduced me to the game. RIP," Mark Shaw wrote.
Michael Petherick told the Herald Moody was a regular surfer at the corner at Lyall Bay for many years and was "one of the local crew".
"Everybody who knew him in the Wellington surfing community - even just by face, is saddened at his death. He was a really friendly guy who loved getting in amongst it in the waves.
"Rest in peace, Graeme."
- with Clarence Valley Daily Examiner, Newstalk ZB
