Where to find fresh seafood on the Coast

One of the best things about living by the coast is the natural access to fresh, locally sourced seafood. From hand-shucked Hawkesbury oysters, to snapper and imperadore caught by local fisherman, we’re so lucky to also have businesses championing fresh seafood from Central Coast waters.

To avoid going cray cray and missing out on enjoying fresh seafood these holidays, we’ve got a raft of local businesses – many of them family run – that are all ready to supply your party with quality choices when it comes to sourcing the season's freshest oysters and seafood.

Why fresh is best

Fresh market seafood is the order of the day for both Christmas and New Year celebrations. Whether you’re making a perfect prawn cocktail, serving up a deluxe platter of oysters, or grilling salmon on the barbie – quality matters! So we’ve gathered some long-standing local favourites and reliable merchants to assist in your search for the freshest fish in the region…

Woy Woy Fisherman’s Wharf

Looking more attractive than ever after its recent refurb, Woy Woy Fishermen’s Wharf is an award-winning Central Coast icon. The local business has been in the Cregan-Clayton family since the mid-1970s, so they know a few things about sourcing fresh seafood. These holidays, WWFW have market fresh seafood available to order via their website, which can be delivered directly to your door, Monday to Saturday, coastwide (closed Xmas Day, Boxing Day and NY Day). And if you need a last-minute Christmas surprise for someone – WWFW now sell eGift Cards too.

Casanova Oysters & Seafood, Berkeley Vale

For the love of fresh fish, visit Casanova, a family run Central Coast business for three generations. Promising amazingly fresh oysters and seafood from the Eastern Seaboard, Casanova open their oysters daily on site to ensure only the best quality ones are sold. The team are currently taking preorders via phone or email.

Beach Parade Seafood & Takeaway, Canton Beach

Perched on the beautiful Canton Beach to the north of the Central Coast, sits Beach Parade Seafood. The best way to ensure you secure a Christmas order through these guys is to give them a call, and organise pickup with the owners on, or leading up to, Christmas Eve and New Years. You can order half a dozen Kilpatrick oysters ready to grill, large Balmain bugs, cooked blue swimmer crabs, and prawns galore.

D & L Witchard, Woy Woy

This is a no-frills, fresh Australian seafood outlet located on the outskirts of Woy Woy town centre on Ocean Beach Road. Alongside its great reputation for quality and knowledge of the industry, these guys sell everything from locally grown Pacific oysters and Sydney rock oysters, to sweet, juicy king prawns and A-grade Atlantic salmon. Shucked or unshucked, it’s up to you.

Skinner’s Seafood, Ettalong Beach

This is a true hidden gem of the Coast - you’ll have trouble finding it with a basic Google search! Tucked away on Picnic Parade at Ettalong Beach sits a modest seafood hut serving daily specials fresh from the ocean. The latest catches are handwritten on old school blackboards surrounding the hut, featuring mullet, kippers, sole, barramundi, snapper, oysters, mussels, octopus, clams and bugs. You need to rise early like a fisherman to get in and grab the freshest goods.

Darron’s Seafood, Wamberal

When cruising along The Entrance Road through Wamberal, you’ll spot a row of shops featuring a lively cartoon prawn welcoming you to Darron’s Seafood, a local favourite for a fish and chip lunch. Darron’s also offer a decent range of fresh seafood to cook at home, including a popular 1kg of prawns for a modest price tag.

Molly’s Local Seafood, West Gosford

Molly’s Local Seafood is another no-frills wholesaler in West Gosford, run by Brad who has worked in a number of top Sydney restaurants including Tetsuyas and Bathers Pavilion. During Covid, he opened the warehouse doors to locals, and due to its popularity he will be continuing to do so every Saturday ongoing for locals, plus serving up his signature special dishes (paella or fish pies anyone?). Their seafood is market fresh daily. On Christmas Eve their retail shop will be open alongside a refrigerated truck selling prawns, oysters, lobsters and seafood platters., so drop by from 8am to catch something fresh. Molly’s Mini Market will also be open on Christmas Eve, with fruits straight from the grower including mango trays and boxes of cherries for just $10 each.

Seacoast Fishing, Kincumber

A handful of leading local chefs purchase their seafood from Seacoast, giving it an instant promise of quality, along with 17 years of experience as a Central Coast commercial fishing business. Add to this the ocean-fresh element of their service, as they supply fish straight from their boat to their co-op shop window for sale. Located 400m from the Scenic Road roundabout toward Macmasters Beach, this is a great place to source your freshly caught lobster, alongside a range of Broken Bay schoolies, local snapper, squid, sea bream and plenty more on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Hawkesbury River Oyster Shed, Mooney Mooney

Located in the heart of Hawkesbury River, this award-winning, small local oyster farm supplies fresh produce straight from the source. The Shed is open until 4pm Christmas Eve for seafood eat ins, and their take home seafood service will return in the New Year. If you’ve missed them in the lead up to Christmas, this is a great ‘must visit’ spot during summer to enjoy one of their daily specials by the Hawkesbury, including whole lobster and salad or fresh blue swimmer crab, with BYO available.

Ocean Blues Quality Seafood, Budgewoi

These heroes are open every day except Christmas Day over the holiday season. Located down by the waterway between Budgewoi Make and Lake Munmorah, this place must be good if there’s a bait shop right next door! Ocean Blues hand-cut their chips, and even offer gluten-free chips and vegan ‘fish’ & chips. Pop in to make your selection from their display of fresh fish including Snapper, Flathead, Orange Roughy, Barramundi, Atlantic Salmon, Mullet, Whiting, New Zealand Hoki and more, which is then weighed, priced an cooked how you want it - battered crumbed or grilled.

Mooney Mooney Oyster Farm Tours

If you love oysters, an authentic tour experience with this local business will be one of the highlights of your New Year. As part of visiting their Shellar Door, you get to meet second and third generation oyster farmers, visit the oyster leases along the Hawkesbury, and – the best bit – taste those famous Broken Bay Oysters in the flesh. Lunch can also include your choice of bubbly, beer or wine, served on a secluded beach. Located just 45 minutes north of Sydney's CBD, Mooney Mooney Oyster Farm Tours (also known as Sydney Oyster Tours), is a great gift or group experience to discover more about Central Coast waterways.

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