The peak of crawfish season may be months away, but early indications point to a better than usual forecast as the boiled crustaceans have already begun appearing in Louisiana markets and restaurants.
Crawfish specialist with the LSU AgCenter, Dr. Greg Lutz said the indicators project well for the upcoming season, but there could be a hitch.
He said, “If we hit a real cold snap, we could be back to square one and end up with just an average season at best.”
Dr. Lutz added, “What a lot of consumers don’t grasp is that the way the season turns out is really the result of what’s been happening 10 or 12 months out. But up to right now, the conditions have been pretty favorable to get off to a good start.”
According to a report in The New Orleans Advocate, “At markets this month, boiled crawfish have been running around $5.50 a pound, or $4.50 a pound for live crawfish. That’s easily twice the price seafood lovers can expect in the spring. At restaurants, the price is significantly higher.”
One New Orleans establishment providing crawfish for the Christmas holidays, according to the same report, is Castnet Seafood Market.
“People are just nibbling at the edges now,” owner Kent Bondi said. “We might do 400 pounds a day now, but keep in mind a normal day when the season is really here is more like 2,000 pounds for us.”
He continued, “They have family in from out of town, so they’re thinking: Pick up a few pounds, have a few beers with them in the back yard. That’s a nice outing for the holidays right there.”
June 3, 2026
