Where can I buy live crawfish? For non-Southern natives, we get this question a lot, so we decided to put together a sourcing guide to make it simple.
Of course, where you live plays the biggest role in how easy or difficult it is to get your hands on some fresh crawfish. If you’re a Louisiana local, or live in most Southern states, you have an abundance of options available and likely already know your favorite spot. However, if you're interested in seeing all of your options and prices so you can shop around, use the app below.
For our out-of-state customers, finding live crawfish can be more of a challenge. However, it is easier today than ever with the ability to buy live crawfish online. So, where can I buy live crawfish online? Check out our friends at Louisiana Crawfish Company.
Although some grocery stores do stock live crawfish from time to time, you’re more likely to find them at smaller seafood markets. Not only do the mom-and-pop shops tend to carry less common aquatic critters, but they often have higher-quality farm-raised crawfish.
Where can I buy live crawfish in Louisiana? There’s more than likely a specialty shop nearby. If you’re not a Louisianan, you may need to make a few phone calls.
If you’re still not having any luck finding crawfish in stock, ask your local fishmonger for advice. Even if they’re not able to source some for you, they might be able to point you in the right direction of where to buy fresh crawfish.
These days, you can buy pretty much anything on the internet. Crawfish are no exception. However, there are some location-specific limitations you should know about.
Where can I buy live crawfish online? Our personal favorite: LA Crawfish Company.
Please note: If you live in Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, or Wisconsin you will not be able to buy live crawfish due to laws.
If you do reside in one of the states where live crawfish cannot be shipped legally, and you’re still not able to find fresh crawfish locally, you may need to settle for boiled crawfish, which are legal to ship. Either way, you’re probably going to have to pay steeper shipping fees, as the crawfish will need to be shipped fast with special packaging.
Where can I buy live crawfish if I’m not able to find any locally or online? Well, if you can’t buy them, you might have to put on some boots and go catch them yourself (if they live in your area). That said, even if you know where to buy fresh crawfish locally, catching them can be a fun and rewarding hobby. Just make sure you check your local laws and get a license, if required.
Unlike their crustacean cousins, lobsters, crawfish don’t live in seawater. They live in freshwater, like ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, swamps, canals, marshes, and wetlands. They’re easiest to catch during the summer months when ponds are dry.
Crawfish are scavengers, so they typically hang out at the bottom of the pond, and they tend to burrow into the ground. You may also find them searching for food around or under rocks and near aquatic plants. Once you find a suitable spot, here’s how to get your hands on some wild-caught crawfish.
One rudimentary way to catch crawfish is to tie a piece of bait to a line, wait for crawfish to latch on, and then grab them with a net or your hands. As far as bait goes, you have plenty of options! Chicken necks and gizzards, hot dogs, beef liver and spleen, canned cat food or dog food, and oily fish heads are all popular choices.
Where can I buy live crawfish bait? Don’t bother. Live bait is much more difficult to manage, and crawfish go wild for all sorts of meats.
Crawfish swim by propelling themselves backward. If you stand downstream from a current, you may be able to simply scoop them up with a net or grab them from behind the head. If you don’t see any swimming, move some rocks around.
Even if you know where to buy fresh crawfish locally, trapping them yourself can be a great way to save some money and time, especially if you’re hosting a big crawfish boil. Simply buy a crawfish trap, and follow the instructions for use. This is the best approach for catching a lot of crawfish quickly and easily.
As you can see, sourcing farm-raised crawfish or wild-caught crawfish isn’t always easy, but the results are worth the effort. Once you have your crawfish, it’s time for the fun part!
Make sure you have crawfish boil equipment ready for the feast. You’ll need a big ol’ 80-100 quart pot, a crawfish burner, crawfish pot cooler, crawfish paddle, seafood boil seasoning bag, and any lagniappe that strikes your fancy—corn, potatoes, onions, sausage, lemons, and celery all work great. Try our patented designs, and enjoy a stress-free crawfish boil.
