When to Catch Sand Fleas
There are several methods to catch sand fleas. One method is by hand. Sand fleas can survive for three to four days in the moist sand. They produce yellowish waste, which helps to prevent them from suffocating. Another method involves using a sand flea trap.
Sand fleas can be found on the beach all over. They tend to be most abundant where the beach meets the ocean. They burrow in the wet sand and usually group together in colonies. This type of flea is vulnerable to predators, so it is important to keep an eye out.
Sand fleas are not endangered, and their numbers are healthy along the Gulf Coast and Atlantic coast. However, they are not good to eat. They have very little meat and their shells are too hard to eat. They can be softened by frying, but the taste is not pleasant. They are far less desirable than shrimp shells. If you must catch a few, make sure to wash them thoroughly.
While sand fleas are commonly caught in shallow water, they also make good bait for surf fishing. Because they are a natural predator of fish, they are an excellent choice for bait. In addition to baiting surf fish, they also make excellent bait for striped bass, pompano, and redfish.