NJ craw fish..

[hunt1940]

i know i've seen this topic posted over the years and with google research etc. I still can find any info on catching and eating NJ craw fish . Have people done it or do they do it etc ? is it worth it  and are they good to eat ?

[hammer4reel]

used to see a bunch in the Musky, but not sure there would be enough there to catch for a meal.

 

[jerseyjimk]

I use a trap for crawfish, I dont eat them. Not enough for a meal, great small mouth bait

[Cedars]

Used to roll rocks to catch them N Branch Raritan.  Best bait ever.  They are so small,  the fish you catch is your meal.

Edited March 22, 2018 by Cedars

[Bigsquirrel]

I have eaten them.   Tasted good from what I remember.  Obviously you need a bunch.  I would go out at night with a flashlight and catch them in small creeks.  Their eyes reflect like deer.   Biggest I have seen recently was nearing 6 inches.  Have a picture somewhere..........

Edited March 19, 2018 by Bigsquirel
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[Rusty]

11 hours ago, jerseyjimk said:

I use a trap for crawfish, I dont eat them. Not enough for a meal, great small mouth bait

Welcome to the site Mr. Jersey Jim.  

[Lady Bird]

I have seen TONS in the Rockaway River.  

[82ndAbnRVN]

If you like crawfish, live music, line dancing and more, you gotta be here:

http://www.crawfishfest.com/

Edited March 20, 2018 by 82ndAbnRVN

[Buck154]

I have seen a lot here but never seen anyone get them to eat in NJ, only for bait

[MRMCR]

As kids we would go to the local creek and have fun catching them....but that was in urban areas so I would never eat them there..I am sure you could still find them in clean waters....we use to call them fresh water lobsters....

[hammer4reel]

I would think this time of the year from ice cold clear water , they would be great .

I have a few friends who order them in from Louisiana  a few times a year.

Be cool to catch them local if they were in good numbers

[jerseyjimk]

I dont think NJ has a law on catching crawfish 

[Kype]

like others mentioned. it would take a lot to make a meal, although I have seen some real giants in the south branch. I used to catch them with a stick and coffee can. bump its head and they would swim backwards into the can. I still have my biggest smallmouth above my tv that I caught on a crayfish when I was little. ill do the same for my daughter when she gets a little older. nowadays I try to tie different versions on the vise. theres so many  and believe it or not, some actually work better then others lol.

[Silver Belly62]

Seen them here over the years but never heard many talk about eating them

[hemlock]

Used to go once every June  and get a mess of them in the waywayanda  creek with my friends.. We used to just drop a small piece of crawler in front of them and they move up and grab it and gently lift them up with our rod into a coffee can  and then into a big cooler. We weren't exactly craw fisherman but we got enough to snack on once a year.