Texas Crawfish Season 2026 Could Bring Higher Prices and Shortages

If you’re planning a big crawfish boil this Valentine’s Day or gearing up for Mardi Gras in Texas, you might want to brace yourself.

According to reporting from KBMT 12News in Southeast Texas, labor shortages in Louisiana are creating a crawfish supply crunch that could drive prices up and make those “dirty little mudbugs” harder to find in 2026.

And that surprised me.

Why Texas Is Feeling Louisiana’s Labor Shortage

You would think with Louisiana right next door and the Gulf of Mexico (call it what you want), Texas would have crawfish rolling in by the truckload.

But that’s not what’s happening.

12News reports that Louisiana farms are struggling because they don’t have enough workers to harvest crawfish. Delays in H-2 visa processing for seasonal migrant laborers, along with growing fears surrounding immigration enforcement, have left some farms severely understaffed.

One farm owner told 12News that they typically rely on about 10 workers this time of year. This season? Only two have arrived so far.

That’s a huge difference.

Not a Weather Problem, A Workforce Problem, Okay

What makes this even more unusual is that this isn’t a weather issue.

Normally, coolers would be stacked high with pallets of live crawfish heading into Texas restaurants and grocery stores. Instead, some suppliers report they’re barely keeping up with existing demand.

And here’s something else that stood out to me: producers say they don’t make money off high prices. They make money by moving volume. If supply stays tight, everyone feels it.

A Texan’s Honest Take on Crawfish

Now, I'm being candidly honest here. My wife is absolutely addicted to crawfish boils. She loves the whole experience, the spice, the mess, the gathering around the table.

Me? I’m more of a crawfish gumbo, étouffée, or jambalaya guy. I love Cajun food, but I prefer it in a bowl with rice instead of peeling shells for an hour.

Still, crawfish season is part of Texas culture, especially in Southeast Texas and along the Gulf Coast. When Louisiana struggles, Texas feels it.

So if prices jump this season, at least now you know why.

And if you see a good deal on crawfish in 2026, you might want to grab it before it’s gone.

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