The Spencer Gulf prawn fleet of 39 vessels is hoping for a good season opener, which would see plenty of local wild caught prawns available for Christmas lunches.

Nine vessels left on Monday night to complete a two-night stock survey, which will direct where fishing will take place. This ensures that fishers catch prawns that are of optimum size and abundance.

Fishers will be on the water for about a week and there is a second trip planned before Christmas. A third trip will not be until March next year.

Prawn fishers are suggesting people stock up on their Christmas prawns now or place an early order.

Engineer on prawn boat the Lunar Sea Steven Davies said demand for prawns was usually pretty high at this time of year.

"Our conservative fishing strategy will be governed by the stock survey, but to make sure you have prawns for Christmas, it's probably a good idea to order them now," he said.

Port Lincoln has several local seafood retail outlets where good quality, sustainable Spencer Gulf prawns can be ordered from.