Moreton Bay’s shellfish reefs have declined by >96% due to anthropogenic pressures, causing ecosystem services, including biodiversity support and fisheries provision, to be compromised. This has led to shellfish reef restoration expanding in prevalence. We surveyed fish assemblages at three restoring shellfish reefs and 34 control sites in the North Pine River, Southeast Queensland using remote underwater videography (RUV) to quantify effects of restoration on fish. Cameras were deployed at the sites prior to reef restoration and then every six months for three years. Sites were restored using OzFish-designed robust oyster baskets (ROBs) made from mild steel. While shellfish recruitment, especially of estuarine mussels, was strong to the units, they failed to sufficiently conglomerate recycled shells before steel rusted, resulting in unit failure at some sites. Consequently, time since restoration influenced both fish species abundance and richness, but peaks in both metrics were dictated by the structural integrity of reefs. While seascape context was significant in determining fish distribution across control sites, effects at restored reefs were contingent on reef structural integrity, usurping seascape effects. Despite the varied findings, our results indicate that prioritising reef restoration near vegetated habitats would likely improve restoration outcomes for fish assemblages and biodiversity.