Early Crawfish Crop Encouraging After Two Lean Years

After two lean years caused by summer drought and winter cold, it looks as if there will be plenty of crawfish for Super Bowl Sunday — one of the biggest days of the year for Louisiana's crawfish dealers.

Last year's wetter summer and a relatively warm and wet winter are boosting the early crop for a season that peaks in April and May. January downpours that flooded crawfish ponds will dent the total, but those in the business call it the best early season in years.

Ricky Phillips owns Phillips Seafood in Bayou Pigeon and says he's buying 150 to 200 sacks a day. Last year he could get only 30 to 40 a day. He's paying $1.50 to $1.75 a pound, compared with $3.50 to $4 a year ago.