How Much Seafood Do I Need Per Person? A Practical Buying Guide

TL;DR: As a rough main-course guide, allow 350 to 450g of whole fish or 180 to 220g of fillet per adult, 250g of shell-on prawns per person for a feast, 6 to 12 oysters each, and one mud crab for every two people. Scale down when seafood is one of several dishes.

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How Much Fish Per Person

For a main course, allow roughly 350 to 450g of whole fish per adult, or 180 to 220g of fish fillet per adult. The gap between the two numbers matters: a whole fish includes the head, frame, and skin, so a good portion of that weight is not edible flesh. Once a fish is filleted and skinned, almost all of the weight is meat, which is why the fillet figure is lower.

Children generally need about half an adult portion, so plan two children as roughly one adult. If the fish is served alongside other substantial dishes, such as a rice bowl or a generous salad, you can comfortably drop to the lower end of each range. For a whole roasted fish as a centrepiece, err on the higher side so there is enough to share around the table.

How Many Prawns Per Person

For prawns as a main, 500g of shell-on prawns feeds 2 to 3 people. For a prawn feast where the prawns are the star of the meal, step up to about 250g of shell-on prawns per person. Peeled prawns go further because you are not paying for or serving the shell weight, so around 150 to 180g of peeled prawn meat per adult is plenty as a main.

Remember that shell-on prawns lose weight once peeled, so if a recipe calls for a peeled amount, buy more shell-on to allow for it. For help choosing between the types, our king, tiger, and banana prawn guide covers which prawn suits which occasion.

Oysters, Mud Crab, and Sashimi

Oysters are easy to plan. Allow 6 oysters per person as a starter or as part of a wider spread, and up to a dozen each if oysters are the main event or your guests love them. Half a dozen goes quickly, so it is better to have too many than too few.

For mud crab, one whole crab feeds two people as a main course, assuming a good-sized crab. Crab is rich and takes time to eat, so a single crab shared between two makes a satisfying meal with sides.

For sashimi, allow 150 to 200g of fish per person as a main and around 60 to 80g as a light starter. Because sashimi is served raw with nothing added to bulk it out, the portion is smaller than a cooked fillet. Our sashimi portion guide has a fuller breakdown for larger groups and platters.

A Simple Per-Occasion Guide

Use this table as a starting point, then adjust for appetites and how many other dishes you are serving.

Occasion	Per adult	Notes
Weeknight dinner	180–220g fillet	One fish per meal, quick to cook
Weekend BBQ	250g prawns plus 150g fish	Mix of prawns and grilled fillets
Oyster starter	6 oysters	Before a main course
Christmas or celebration platter	350–400g total seafood	Prawns, oysters, smoked fish, plus crab or bug
Mud crab feast	Half a crab	One crab feeds two, with sides
Sashimi main	150–200g fish	Raw, so portions are smaller

Buying the Right Amount on the Gold Coast

The safest approach is to buy for the number of adults, count two children as one adult, and add a small buffer for a celebration where people go back for more. It is always better to have a little extra good seafood than to run short at the table. If you are shopping across several species for a spread, our Gold Coast seafood guide can help you balance the mix.

Tasman Star delivers across the Gold Coast 7 days a week with free delivery on orders over $100, and both stores are open 7 days from 7 AM if you would rather pick your seafood in person. Ordering a day ahead means everything arrives fresh for the meal you are planning.

Work out your quantities and order online for Gold Coast delivery.