Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Crawfish season ranks right up there in consideration for the number 2 spot.

It's Crawfish Season!!

Crawfish season has arrived in the South.  Usually crawfish season runs from January to May, give or take a few weeks.  The height of the season goes from late February through April.  Wholesale prices of crawfish will almost always be more expensive in December and January as opposed to later in the season.

2021 was a good year for crawfish.  Even with the temporary drop of supply due to the record-setting cold of February, the stock of crawfish was able to replenish toward the Spring months.  The demand for crawfish in 2021 was healthy although there may have been a bit of a drop due to cancellation of some crawfish festivals and other gatherings due to COVID-19 concerns.

How is 2022 shaping up for Crawfish?

In a word -- GREAT!  The South has seen a record-breaking December when it comes to warm temperatures.  That has led to a robust crop of crawfish in the early going.  Granted, it is still Wintertime and we will see ebbs and flows in crawfish supply in January and February thanks to cold fronts.  Why? Let Mike Fruge of Fruge Seafood explain.

So, the crawfish population looks to be great, however, several factors such as supply chain issues and overall inflation could drive up the price of crawfish in 2022. It has already had an impact on prices at some of the businesses in Louisiana that are selling crawfish early in the season.

What's the timeline for crawfish availability in Deep East Texas?

It's already here!  Area Lakes Catfish Retail and Whole Sale Market in Lufkin started selling bags of crawfish this week ($4.25/pound).  That price usually comes down a bit into the Spring, plus the crawfish usually get a little bigger.

Meanwhile, one of the biggest crawfish restaurants in East Texas is a week away from opening its business back up for the season.  Crawdaddy's Boil-n-Go with locations in Lufkin, Nacogdoches and Diboll advertise that they will be opening on Thursday, January 13.  Their hours will be Thursdays: 5 p.m. - 9 p.m., Fridays: 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. and Saturdays: Noon until they sell out.

If you need your boiled crawfish fix now, you're in luck.  Pelican Pointe in Lufkin has them on the menu already and they are set to boil them up in all of their spicy goodness.

So, start doing your thumb exercises now and get ready for crawfish season!

 

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