Can You Eat Ocean Sand Fleas?
Although sand fleas are edible, you should avoid eating them because they may contain parasites. To avoid getting sick from these creatures, you should boil them before eating them. However, before you cook them, you should rinse them well to remove all debris. Sand fleas’ meaty insides are similar to those of crabs and are usually very sweet in taste. To make them more delicious, you can add some spices to their flavor.
To prepare them for cooking, you can blanch them in boiling water or freeze them. This will help make them hard and prevent them from flying off the hook. Another way to prepare them is to add food dye to the water. This method works well for preparing these insects.
Sand fleas are edible because they have five pairs of thoracic legs. They belong to the decapod order, which means they are critters that live in seawater. They also have powerful exoskeletons that hold their appendages close to their bodies. This exoskeleton helps them navigate waves and tidal currents.
Sand fleas are also a good bait for game fish. They are especially useful for catching red drum and pompano. Sand fleas are also eaten by several predators, such as sea mullet and striped bass. However, if you decide to eat the sand fleas, make sure to remove their shells before eating them.