Professional lobster fishers along the South East coast are reported to be pleased with the opening beach (wholesale) price of up to $75 per kilogram.

The vast majority of the 170 licence holders put to sea and placed their pots when the 2023/24 season got under way at 6am on Friday.

They have been checking their pots on the following days and been assisted by mostly favourable weather.

In contrast to past practice, the market is paying a premium for the larger lobsters with returns as little as $50 per kilogram for the smaller catches.

These prices have come direct to The SE Voice from Sky Seafoods proprietor Andrew Lawrie, of Robe

These prices are comparable to a year ago and continue to reflect the absence of the once-lucrative Chinese export market when trade bans were imposed four years ago.

The domestic market in the capital city is currently charging retail customers $95 per kilogram for cooked fresh lobsters while the delicacy is back on the menus of SE eateries.

The SE Voice understands that most boats went fishing from Beachport on the opening day.

Among them was Ultimate Lady crewed by skipper David Dunsford and his deckhand and son Jack.

Fishing is very much in the genes of Mr Dunsford and this is his 50th consecutive season that he has put to sea.

In earlier times, he also held a professional licence to catch Lake George Mullet for such upmarket Adelaide eateries as the Hilton Hotel.

His late father Ron Dunsford was a commercial lobster fisher and so too was his younger brother Gary.