Crawfish/crayfish help!

[Dakota Stewart]

Been looking into crayfishing here in Rochester Ny and trying to find out of its safe to eat them and what not and where's the best places to catch them. 

[PennBass]

You should probably check the area's industrial activity, both current and present. Industrial pollution such as lead/mercury and other heavy metals can remain in the water and environment for a long time and can be found in the wildlife's systems. Also, agricultural runoff can be detrimental to your health. 

 

I've seen lots of crawfish in several rocky streams in my area. I bet you could catch a few using a crawfish trap and some bait (liver, meat, anything edible). Just remember to pursue sustainable harvesting!

[Sam]

Try Louisiana Crawfish Company.

Safe, healthy, live when they arrive and you can have fun cooking them, especially when the jump out of the pot on the stove and start running around the kitchen floor!

They will not be cheap but you won't die from eating them as you may from the ones in New York and definitely from the ones in New Jersey.

[Subaqua Adinterim]

I live in the Rochester area (Penfield) and have lived in different parts of NY off and on for most of my life.  I have never heard of anyone catching crayfish for consumption in NY.  They are a popular live bait for bass and you can get these at various bait stores or catch them in streams, lakes and ponds.  The NY species of crawfish may not be the same as those in Louisiana.  

You might try Palmers market on Jefferson Road, they sell seafood and meat products delivered from all parts of the country.  

Good luck in your search.

[deaknh03]

On Wednesday, April 06, 2016 at 7:05 AM, Sam said:

Try Louisiana Crawfish Company.

Safe, healthy, live when they arrive and you can have fun cooking them, especially when the jump out of the pot on the stove and start running around the kitchen floor!

They will not be cheap but you won't die from eating them as you may from the ones in New York and definitely from the ones in New Jersey.

Wasnt it 6 years ago that millions upon millions of gallons of oil spilled into the water off Louisiana's coast? I will pass on any food coming from the gulf coast, 6 years is just way too soon.

[gulfcaptain]

18 minutes ago, deaknh03 said:

Wasnt it 6 years ago that millions upon millions of gallons of oil spilled into the water off Louisiana's coast? I will pass on any food coming from the gulf coast, 6 years is just way too soon.

Yep, unrefined light crude that emulsified from the warm waters and water turbulance which is better then the spraying they did.  BUT that isn't an issue with crayfish/crawfish as they don't live in saltwater very well.  Most crawfish harvested in Louisana are from flooded rice fields which are nowhere close to where there were any issues.  

[deaknh03]

37 minutes ago, gulfcaptain said:

Yep, unrefined light crude that emulsified from the warm waters and water turbulance which is better then the spraying they did.  BUT that isn't an issue with crayfish/crawfish as they don't live in saltwater very well.  Most crawfish harvested in Louisana are from flooded rice fields which are nowhere close to where there were any issues.  

But it did travel inland and affected fresh waters.

[gulfcaptain]

3 hours ago, deaknh03 said:

But it did travel inland and affected fresh waters.

It got into some of the marshes true.  But the media over hyped it.  How do I know this, because I was down there.  So much was made up.  The marsh grass dying, the oil they were finding 3ft below the sand and blaming the oil spill.  I don't think so.  So many I've talked to were shocked they burn the marshes every year.  Yep, light them on fire. Where do the hydro carbons go....into the bottom muck which if you disturb and dig into will produce a sheen from the organic break down.  My friend, the rice fields were not affected by any oil.  You're worried about the crayfish, what about the rice and sugar cane that is produced in those same areas where they harvest crawfish?  The oysters they still export and sell from down there, the shrimp, the snapper, the blue crab?  All have been shown to be safe and they DO come from the Gulf.  If the media actually told you what  was really going on down there (mainly a lot of people ready to clean up a spill sitting around doing nothing in a big tent getting a paycheck) then it wouldn't have been that great of a story.  Sorry to tell you, the oil never made it to the ponds that they harvest them from.  Saltwater kills most plants and rice would be one of them.  The rice fields are far from the Gulf and any salwater.  Besides most of the crawfish ponds are located in the central and southwest sections of the state.  The spill affected a small portion of the delta and a couple bays around Fourchon just west of Venice LA as well as some areas of Mississippi to the mouth of Mobile Bay.  The crawfish are safe to eat.  Just like the ducks and geese that fly down to the delta every winter and then travel all over the US.  They eat the marsh grasses from the delta.  Got a better chance with them then the crawfish.  But highly unlikely to find anything there either.

[Sam]

As Gulf Captain writes, the fishing in Louisiana has never been better.

The crawfish are flourishing in the marshes and bayous.

Crabs are large and fat.

LSU baseball is on a tear.

LSU softball is doing great.

LSU spring football is in high gear with great results.

And then there is Toolame...............

P.S.  Seems the micro organisms LSU had put in the Gulf to eat the oil are still working and the oil has just about all but disappeared. Oil is always on the bottom of the Gulf, somewhere. Just like off the coat of California with all of the oil seeping out of the ocean floor. And everyone eats sushi without a pause of concern.

[Catt]

Do a Google search New York Crawfish, ya will be surprised!

As far as the oil spill...quit drinking the Koolaid!

[Subaqua Adinterim]

You can eat a NY crawfish if you had to, however, these are not the same species that are caught in Louisiana.  I doubt you could catch the quantity or quality to equal what you could purchase at a seafood market.  Again, I suggest Palmers market in Henrietta on Jefferson Road where you can pick them up if they have them, and then look into the other place suggested if you want to have them shipped to you.

Good luck and please update us on how your search turns out.

[gulfcaptain]

On 4/12/2016 at 8:15 PM, Catt said:

Do a Google search New York Crawfish, ya will be surprised!

As far as the oil spill...quit drinking the Koolaid!

 

But I really like the Red and Grape flavors!!!!