Fisheries on the Spit at Mooloolaba wins top award at Qld Seafood Industry Awards

Finding the very best fish and chips can be hard but this may just be the best of the best – with a little AI help.

Fisheries on the Spit, Mooloolaba. Photo: Supplied

A Sunshine Coast fishery and restaurant has been crowned the best takeaway fish and chip shop in Queensland at a prestigious awards ceremony in Brisbane.

Fisheries on the Spit in Mooloolaba took out first place at the 2024 Queensland Seafood Industry Awards held at the Rydges Hotel in Brisbane on March 15.

The business was also a finalist in the best large seafood business category.

The awards are held every two years, and Fisheries on the Spit’s win guarantees them a place in the national finals in Tasmania later this year.

Mooloolaba Fisheries general manager Paul Schenk.

Fisheries on the Spit’s parent company is Mooloolaba Fisheries, a family owned business which also runs the Noosa Junction Seafood Market and Point Cartwright Seafood Market.

Mooloolaba Fisheries general manager Paul Schenk, a former chef to the stars and TV host overseas, joined the business last year.

He said this was the first time Fisheries on the Spit had taken out the prestigious award, which served as recognition for the 41 years of hard work various members of the business had put into making it such a legendary institution.

He said Fisheries on the Spit was the only Sunshine Coast business nominated at the prestigious awards, and had beat out previous winners.

Paul Schenk and Jamaican celebrity rapper, Sean Paul. Photo: Supplied

“Fish and chip shops are the heart of the industry,” Mr Schenk said.

“We pride ourselves on our quality … with our local line caught fish and we work tirelessly every day to make sure we’re giving quality to everyone who comes in.”

Mr Schenk said Fisheries on the Spit serves between 300 to 400 people on an average day, and up to 700 on their busiest days.

“We must be doing our jobs well for people to keep coming back,” he said.

Several products have been launched since Mr Schenk joined the team, including the Marinaba Prawns: an apparent world-first after using ChatGPT to create a marinade recipe to compliment Mooloolaba Prawns.

Mr Schenk then revealed Fisheries on the Spit was preparing to launch a new product in May – Mooloolaba Soup – which they are intending to sell over the winter periods.