Sand Fleas

Sand fleas are cute. They also make great bait for whiting and pompano in the surf. However, finding them can be difficult. Sand fleas exit in colonies at the surf line and move in and out with the tide. Each colony is sort of like a patch of vibrating sand that occurs every 20-2-30 yards along the beach. An active sand flea colony is in the photo above. Colonies may be 10 feet long and 2 feet wide (photo above). Once you learn how to spot them you are home free.

Sand fleas can be caught by setting a sand flea rake in the receding water just in front of a colony. The fleas will be washed up and into the rake. The rake needs to have pores big enough to let water and sand through but small enough to catch the sand fleas. Pores about 3/8 of an inch work well. Sand fleas range from 0.25 inch to 1.25 inches in length.

Sand flea rakes vary in size. I made one that was 12 inches wide. Of course that was too small once I saw someone with one that was bigger at 20 inches wide - Grrrr.... You guessed it. I made a second one that is 24 inches wide and am currently designing the 30 inch "ultimate special". Photos later.