How to Catch Sand Fleas: Master the Various Methods

Finding prized baits can be easy as long as you know where and how to collect them. Knowing how to catch sand fleas is a fairly easy process and there are several ways that you can do it.

Locating them, using the right tools, as well as familiarizing yourself with the process of how to catch them can serve as a considerable advantage for you.

Known as prized live bait for sheepshead, Pompano, and redfish, sand fleas are often be spotted hiding in wet sand along the shore. You can easily uncover them on beaches with a slight indication of their presence when notice a “V” shaped mark on the sand.

This article will aid you in mastering the various methods on how to catch sand fleas. In addition, I will provide a few important tips as you go through the different procedures.

What You Will Need:

How To Catch Sand Fleas

Before going through the various methods on how to catch sand fleas, there are essential particulars that you will need. These are the following essentials that you need to gather.

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    Bucket - use this to place the sand fleas that you have collected.
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    Towel - use a wet or a damp towel to cover the bucket if in case it is too hot, this will help cool down the temperature inside the bucket.
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    Moist Sand - fill the bucket with around 5 inches of moist or wet sand as for proper storage of the sand fleas.
  • Small Net - you can use this as an alternative option to catch sand fleas.
  • Sand Flea Rake - this is another tool you can use for catching sand fleas aside from using your bare hands or a net.

How To Catch Sand Fleas: The Step-by-Step Approach

How To Catch Sand Fleas

After you have gathered the materials required for this project, you may now carry on with the guide as follows. Here are the methods on how to catch sand fleas.

Method 1: Catching Sand Fleas By Hand

1. Make your way to the beach to locate where the sand fleas are. You can easily spot them the moment the waves draw back to the sea. Sand fleas usually hide under the wet sand. You will notice a “V” mark or impression on the sand which indicates their presence.

2. Once you have spotted or pinpointed the location of the sand fleas, wait until the wave draws back. At this point, you can go ahead and scoop a handful of sand.

3. After you have scooped a handful of sand, dump it unto a drier portion of sand. You will notice the sand fleas will not be able to burrow through and hide under the dry sand.

4. Gather the sand fleas and store them in a bucket with moist sand.

Watch this short clip to see how it is done

Method 2: Catching Sand Fleas Using A Net

1. Using a net is another method you can opt to use. Start the process by locating the sand fleas. As stated, they usually remain hidden under wet sand and can be spotted in between the incoming waves on the shoreline.

2. Once you determined the target area, get your net ready. The moment the wave dissipates stuck your net unto the wet sand and scoop a bulk of the sand out. Let the wave wash out the sand from your net. Once all the sand is washed out, you will find a number of sand fleas in your net.

3. Store the sand fleas you caught in a bucket that contains moist sand.

To get a more constructive idea of how it is done, watch this video

Method 3: Catching Sand Fleas Using A Rake

1. Another way is to use a rake to catch sand fleas. Like, the other two methods, first you need to make sure you have your target area on site where the sand fleas are hidden.

2. Position the sand flea rake with its opening facing away from the incoming wave. Once the incoming wave comes, pull the sand flea rake towards your direction and away from the sea. Make sure to drop the opening of the sand flea rake on the sand in a somewhat scooping motion.

In this way, the sand flea rake will dig into the wet sand, collecting the sand fleas in the process.

3. Lift the sand flea rake. You will now notice all the sand fleas that were collected in the process.

4. Like the other methods, place the sand fleas in a bucket that is filled with moist sand.

For the video version of this process, watch this short clip

Essential Tips On Catching Sand Fleas

How To Catch Sand Fleas

For a successful run when it comes to catching sand fleas, here are a few tips you can consider and use to get the upper hand.

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    When storing sand fleas, avoid adding water to the bucket where you have stored them. This will eventually drown the sand fleas. Instead, put around 5-inch deep of moist sand inside the bucket.
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    If in case the weather is too hot, you can cover the bucket with a wet or damp towel to help cool down the temperature inside the bucket.
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    The ideal time for catching sand fleas is around early morning. The lesser people walking along the beach the better since sand fleas are very sensitive to pressure and can easily sense walkers along the beach.
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    Sand fleas usually hide on the part of the sand where a boundary is formed between the sand and the ocean bottom. You will notice this area has darker colored sand.
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    If in case you do not have a rake or net available, you can also opt to use a bucket drilled with holes. Use the same method as with using a rake to collect the sand fleas and since the bucket is filled with holes, sand and water will easily drain as well.
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    Sand fleas can survive within 3 days from being collected if kept under favorable conditions. Be sure to store them in a cool place and prevent exposing them to sunlight. You also need to replace the moist sand regularly to keep them alive.

Conclusion

It is essential that you have a bait that is popular among numerous types of fishes, especially if you have fishing as a hobby or a profession. Now that you have learned the various methods of how to catch sand fleas, you can easily use these ways to gather your bait. 

Mastering these techniques will lessen your worries about not being able to collect the ample amount of bait you need for fishing.

Were you able to learn and follow the procedures on how to catch sand fleas? Were the supplemental tips helpful? Do you have any other suggestions about this topic? I would like to know your views regarding this article.

Send your reactions and suggestions by leaving a comment below. 

John Morris
 

Hi, I’m John Morris. I’m an avid outdoorsman and fisherman, blessed with an awesome wife and 2 kids. Fishing is not my passion, it is my lifestyle. I fished before I knew how to walk! I’m obsessed with all things related to fishing, even the fishy smell. I’m always willing to extend a hand to novice anglers looking for fishing tips and tricks thus I created this blog. This blog is a collection of my experiences, knowledge, and also research from other blogs.

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