Species profile
Red Swamp Crayfish
Procambarus clarkii
Identify Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 17 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) is an IUCN Least Concern crustacean regulated in 20 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 20 (Montana); the most generous is 150 (Missouri).
Confirmed by 10,630 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with California, Texas, and Louisiana the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- One of the most commercially important crayfish species in the world.
- Introduced globally, now established across Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America.
- Can grow up to 5 inches (12 cm) in length.
- Digs burrows in soft mud, which can damage rice paddies and earthen levees.
- Louisiana produces the majority of commercially harvested crayfish in the United States.
Where Red Swamp Crayfish are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Red Swamp Crayfish
Background
Procambarus clarkii is a species of cambarid freshwater crayfish, native to northern Mexico, and southern and southeastern United States, but also introduced elsewhere (both in North America and other continents), where it is often an invasive pest. It is known variously as the red swamp crawfish, red swamp crayfish, Louisiana crawfish, Louisiana crayfish or mudbug.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Red Swamp Crayfish article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other crabs/lobsters/shrimp on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Red Swamp Crayfish?
Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) is an IUCN Least Concern crustacean regulated in 20 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Red Swamp Crayfish?
Red Swamp Crayfish is Procambarus clarkii.
Is Red Swamp Crayfish regulated for fishing?
Yes — Red Swamp Crayfish has fishing regulations in 17 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Red Swamp Crayfish?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Red Swamp Crayfish along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.