Revealed: See how much Southern Rock Lobster could cost you this Christmas

With belts tightened this festive season, residents in major cities can expect to shell out much more for Christmas crayfish – but South-East buyers will enjoy massive savings.

Best crayfish Southern rock lobster is to Robe what champagne is to France. Family-owned Sky Seafoods estimates they catch between 300kg and 400kg of lobster day. Join a tour of the facility and feast your eyes on beasts weighing up to 5kg. Buy a bottle of wine, grab a table outside and eat your weight in fresh crayfish and Franklin Harbour oysters.

City slickers face paying up to $40 per kilo extra for southern rock lobster than their Limestone Coast counterparts this Christmas, as the industry continues to battle rising overhead costs and poor weather conditions.

Customers who buy close to the source in the state’s South East are looking at spending around $85 per kilo for the sought after seafood, while Adelaide and Melbourne residents could pay as much as $130 per kilo.

Lacepede Seafood owner Tom Wilks — whose seaside cafe in Kingston sells cooked southern rock lobsters caught by locals – said recent poor weather in the lead up to Christmas had put pressure on the demand.

“This happened last year too, the weather was bad before Christmas and the supply wasn't there for the demand,” he said.

“But, hopefully we'll get out in the next few days and get a few more and things will look good.”

Lacepede Seafood’s Stewart Essery at the fish and chip shop in Kingston which sells southern rock lobsters caught by local fishermen. Picture: Dylan Hogarth

South East resident Nicky Cawthorne, who was a fisherman for 37 years before handing the helm to his two sons, said the bad weather had been a blessing in one sense, as it helped keep the price of his catch stable.

Mr Cawthorne said fisherman were trying to spread their catch over the season and maintain a steady flow of product.

“Instead of getting flooded — it gives the factories a chance to get rid of the fish and then restock again,” he said.

“If (the factory) floods with crays then price drops, but if there’s a shortage, then people pay that little bit more.”

Five Star Seafood manager Tom Ryan said Australian's love having seafood on their tables at Christmas, with some travelling interstate to buy direct from his Port MacDonnell business.

Though many are tightening their belt this festive season, Mr Ryan said there was still a high demand from retailers and through direct sales.

“We have caravan holiday makers' come from as far as Queensland to buy South Australian rock lobster,” he said.

Manager of Five Star Seafood Tom Ryan. Picture: Arj Ganesan

Looking at current stocks and the predicted catch over the next 10 days, Mr Ryan said people who buy near the South East could expect to shell out roughly $85 a kilo, a slight increase from 2021 prices.

However, Mr Wilks, who is a cray fisherman himself, said Wednesday’s price of $85 per kilo would likely increase in the next few days.

Residents in the major cities of Adelaide and Melbourne could pay as much as $130 per kilo echoing previous highs last seen three years ago.

“There’s already a few places in Adelaide and Melbourne at $120 per kilo, but it won’t go that high down here,” Mr Ryan said.

Mr Cawthorne said overhead costs from bait to fuel had risen, while rising interest rates continued to add pressure.

“Australians have been very helpful the last two or three years because we didn't have the overseas export,” he said.

“(However,) a lot of people still think (crayfish prices) are probably pretty high.”