Motivated by the relevance of so-called nonlinear Froude–Krylov (FK) hydrodynamic effects in the accurate dynamical description of wave energy converters (WECs) under controlled conditions, and the apparent lack of a suitable control framework effectively capable of optimally harvesting ocean wave energy in such circumstances, we present, in this paper, an integrated framework to achieve such a control objective, by means of two main contributions. We first propose a data-based, control-oriented, modelling procedure, able to compute a suitable mathematical representation for nonlinear FK effects, fully compatible with state-of-the-art control procedures. Secondly, we propose a moment-based optimal control solution, capable of transcribing the energy-maximising optimal control problem for WECs subject to nonlinear FK effects, by incorporating the corresponding databased FK model via moment-based theory, with realtime capabilities. We illustrate the application of the proposed framework, including energy absorption performance, by means of a comprehensive case study, comprising both the data-based modelling, and the optimal moment-based control of a heaving point absorber WEC subject to nonlinear FK forces.