Harsh Cold Winter May Affect Crawfish Season

With all the harsh cold wintry weather we've been having, there's some unfortunate things that extend passed the winter season. It's going to have an affect on crawfish season here in south Louisiana. Keep reading for more info on the state of crawfish season, what to do to assure you have crawfish and more.

Due to the cold weather, crawfish aren't eating as they usually would. This means that they won't be very big come prime crawfish season.

From NOLA.com:

People may have to order ahead even at the peak of the season, said Craig Lutz, an LSU AgCenter professor and aquaculture specialist.

"I think it's fair to say that when we get to Mardi Gras and we get to Easter, we're definitely going to be behind what we would be in a normal season. There'll still be crawfish available. But I think people are going to have to plan a lot better to make sure they have crawfish on those weekends when they want them," he said Wednesday.

"Every week we have where the water temperature is below 50 degrees is a week longer before they get to market size," Lutz said.

Lutz said that a week or two ago, crawfish were so scarce that farmers were getting $3.50 a pound. That's more than double the price farmers were getting before the 2013 Super Bowl, when the early season was the best in at least three years.

"Even at that price most of our farmers were losing money if they tried to fish their ponds," he said. "You're still using the same amount of gasoline; you're still using the same amount of bait. And because the waters are so cold you may get only two or three or four crawfish in a trap."

 

So, if you're wanting crawfish for a certain day throughout the season, be sure to order them well in advance!