Banana Prawns are large prawns that live in the coastal waters in the tropics and subtropics. They are caught off Australia’s Queensland coast in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Commercial fishing for them is allowed from April to June and July to November. They are frozen right on the ship.
There are varieties: Blue Leg (Penaeus indicus) and Red Leg (Penaeus merguiensis.) The Red Leg subspecies is slightly larger.
The prawns are very large, growing up to be 13 inches (34 cm) long and weigh 2 ½ oz (75g), though the ones that reach market usually weigh about 30g (1 oz..) When when raw, they are pale pink, almost white, with reddish brown speckles.
Banana Prawns can begin reproducing at 6 months of age, and can live to be 12 to 18 months of age.
They are fat and juicy.