Best Fish for Good Friday: A Gold Coast Local's Guide

Choosing the right fish is the difference between a Good Friday dinner everyone raves about and one that ends in disappointment. Different species suit different cooking methods, and picking the wrong one is the most common mistake we see. Here's our fishmonger's guide to matching the right fish to your recipe.

Best Fish for Frying

Flathead ⭐ Top Pick

The undisputed king of Australian fish and chips. Flathead has sweet, delicate flesh with a fine flake that holds together beautifully under batter. It fries to a golden perfection and doesn't fall apart when you pick it up.

Best for: Beer-battered fish and chips, crumbed fillets, pan-frying Price range: Mid-range

Barramundi

Australia's most popular table fish for good reason. Barramundi fillets are thick, meaty, and forgiving — excellent for home cooks who worry about overcooking. The flavour is mild and buttery.

Best for: Pan-frying, crumbing, battered fillets, fish tacos Price range: Mid-range

Hake

A budget-friendly workhorse that punches above its weight. Clean, mild flavour and a firm texture that holds up in the fryer. If you're feeding a big family on a budget, hake is your best friend.

Best for: Beer batter, crumbed fillets, family fish and chips Price range: Affordable

Best Fish for Baking

Whole Snapper ⭐ Top Pick

The classic Good Friday showpiece. A whole snapper, baked with lemon, garlic, and fresh herbs, is a stunning centrepiece that tastes as good as it looks. The skin crisps up, the flesh stays moist, and the presentation is unbeatable.

Best for: Whole baked fish, steamed, roasted Price range: Mid-range to premium Cooking tip: Score the skin diagonally on both sides to allow heat and flavour to penetrate evenly.

Coral Trout

A premium reef fish with sweet, firm white flesh. Coral trout holds its shape beautifully when baked and has a rich flavour that needs minimal seasoning.

Best for: Whole baked, steamed with Asian flavours, grilled Price range: Premium

Salmon

Rich, oily, and packed with omega-3s. Salmon fillets bake beautifully — the high fat content means they're very forgiving and almost impossible to dry out.

Best for: Oven-baked fillets, en croûte, glazed Price range: Mid-range to premium

Best Fish for the BBQ

Barramundi ⭐ Top Pick

Thick fillets that won't fall through the grill. Barramundi's firm texture makes it the ideal BBQ fish — it holds together and develops a beautiful char.

Best for: Direct grilling, foil-wrapped on the BBQ, kebabs BBQ tip: Oil the fish, not the grill. Brush fillets with a light coat of vegetable oil to prevent sticking.

Swordfish

Dense, steak-like flesh that grills like red meat. Swordfish won't flake apart on the BBQ and has a satisfying, meaty bite that even non-seafood fans enjoy.

Best for: Grilled steaks, kebabs, chargrilling Price range: Premium

Whole Snapper on the BBQ

Wrap a whole snapper in foil with butter, lemon, and herbs. Place on the BBQ with the lid closed for 20–25 minutes. The result is smoky, tender, and effortless.

Best Fish for Raw / Sashimi

Yellowfin Tuna ⭐ Top Pick

Deep ruby-red flesh with a clean, almost meaty flavour. Yellowfin tuna is the jewel of any sashimi platter. It must be sashimi-grade — always buy from a fishmonger you trust.

Best for: Sashimi, poke bowls, tataki Price range: Premium

Salmon

Silky, rich, and universally loved. Sashimi-grade salmon is perfect for first-time sashimi eaters. Its buttery texture and mild flavour make it the most approachable raw fish.

Kingfish

Buttery, clean flavour with a delicate texture. Kingfish sashimi with a drizzle of ponzu and thinly sliced ginger is a Good Friday luxury.

Quick Reference Table

| Fish | Fry | Bake | BBQ | Raw | Budget | |------|-----|------|-----|-----|--------| | Flathead | ⭐ | ✓ | — | — | $$ | | Barramundi | ⭐ | ✓ | ⭐ | — | $$ | | Hake | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | $ | | Snapper | ✓ | ⭐ | ✓ | — | $$ | | Coral Trout | — | ⭐ | ✓ | — | $$$ | | Salmon | ✓ | ⭐ | ✓ | ⭐ | $$ | | Swordfish | — | ✓ | ⭐ | — | $$$ | | Yellowfin Tuna | — | — | ✓ | ⭐ | $$$ | | Kingfish | — | — | — | ⭐ | $$$ |

Get the Right Fish This Easter

Whatever you're cooking this Good Friday, we've got the freshest catch waiting for you. Browse our full range online or visit Tasman Star Seafood on the Gold Coast. Our team can advise you on the best species for your recipe, scale and fillet your fish on the spot, and help you plan the perfect Easter menu.