Sand Fleas How to see them and catch them
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- Old Salt
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- Old Salt
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Rijkaard, I am no longer going to make an effort to fish with you,WHY?!? I hate my job this time I got to 17th street and the many bad words pager went off AGAIN!!! Rijkaard, I hope you are very successful this evening and all that is good is with you! TIGHT LINES!!! Oh just kidding about the getting together.
- fishnfool73
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- Lomax
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... Anytime you need them.
Fleas are there at night. And they do not run and hide from people. They are just harder to see in the day when the sun is getting higher, unless there are clouds. I have loaded up at night right next to my feet while fishing the beach in the dark. Moonlight showed me everything. Only the cold makes them dig down over the edges and stay away.
Fleas are there at night. And they do not run and hide from people. They are just harder to see in the day when the sun is getting higher, unless there are clouds. I have loaded up at night right next to my feet while fishing the beach in the dark. Moonlight showed me everything. Only the cold makes them dig down over the edges and stay away.
Stilts
Watch the long legged stilts. They are a skinny, long legged bird that loves sand fleas. By watching them you can also find the fleas when the are just inside the surf wash. They will catch one and then bring it up on the beach and eat it. Watch nature it is one of the best sources of information there is. My Grandpa taught me this.
Jimmy
Jimmy
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- BoatlessFisherman
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Read this on how to hook a snad flea
http://boatlessfishing.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2382[/url]
http://boatlessfishing.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2382[/url]
-Tommy A-
click, click, click, Fish ON - Over, Under, Over, Under Get out of my Way. Sound familiar.
click, click, click, Fish ON - Over, Under, Over, Under Get out of my Way. Sound familiar.
- fishnfool73
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We used to catch those on the sea walls when I was a kid. Free lined on a small hook they swim and the snapper tear them up. We would use an old rope and smack them against the wall to kill them they would fall in and free chum for the mangrove snapper. We always called them sea roaches no sure what their real name is. Try them I am sure they will catch something.
- Frogfish101
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Are there a lot of Sandfleas in Pompano Beach? Will they still be there in Dec/Jan?
Also, will there be sandfleas in Ormond Beach, just north of Daytona?
I'm asking this because I'll be staying right on the beach, and I want to dig for them at dusk or early dawn so i can use them through the day...
Thanks!
Also, will there be sandfleas in Ormond Beach, just north of Daytona?
I'm asking this because I'll be staying right on the beach, and I want to dig for them at dusk or early dawn so i can use them through the day...
Thanks!
"Our lives are defined by the sum of our ventures into the unknown."
-Juro Mukai
-Juro Mukai
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Are Sand fleas the same as sand crabs?
My grandparents have a vacation home on the Beach in Ocean City Maryland. It is where my first taste of fishing came from.
I used to spend the entire summer there until I was about eight (1972). We used to dig in the sand and find what we called sand crabs. On the top they sort of looked like micro armadillos on the bottom they had tiny legs and looked crab like in a strange way. I really can't explain it.
The big ones were about two inches. Most over an inch though. Last time we were there (1997 or 98) We dug in the sand for about a half hour and caught a few dozen. They are really plentiful there. Always have been, The surf is almost always between three and six feet at our location. Sometimes much higher. Maybe that is why.
I would really appreciate it if someone could display a picture of a sand flea on the forum to see if it is the same thing. We have dug in the sand on Miami Beach and Crandon park looking for them but have never found one.
In the meantime, I look forward to my next beach visit to use Tommy's advice.
I used to spend the entire summer there until I was about eight (1972). We used to dig in the sand and find what we called sand crabs. On the top they sort of looked like micro armadillos on the bottom they had tiny legs and looked crab like in a strange way. I really can't explain it.
The big ones were about two inches. Most over an inch though. Last time we were there (1997 or 98) We dug in the sand for about a half hour and caught a few dozen. They are really plentiful there. Always have been, The surf is almost always between three and six feet at our location. Sometimes much higher. Maybe that is why.
I would really appreciate it if someone could display a picture of a sand flea on the forum to see if it is the same thing. We have dug in the sand on Miami Beach and Crandon park looking for them but have never found one.
In the meantime, I look forward to my next beach visit to use Tommy's advice.
If I could be any kind of fish, I would be a fisherman
- baitwetter
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I went to Oakland Park beach today and slayed the sand fleas I didnt have a sand flea catcher so I used my hands caught about 100 of them I also caught something that looks like a sand flea but its twice the size has two antenna coming out of its head and has two claws kinda looks like a sand flea on steroids.
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Just about anything that walks or swims near the surf zone will eat them.
I've even occasionally seen jacks, seatrout and flounder caught on them.
Most common are the drums (red & black) and kingfishes (any of the 3 species), pompano (a species of jack BTW) sheepshead, small sharks and rays.
Here's a link to some more info:
http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/marinebio/softshore.html
Mole crab burying itself...
How they group up during the tide cycles...
Closeup crossection of mole crab in 'feeding mode'.
The little 'dimples' you see as a wave receeds are the mole crabs feathery antennae straining food particles...
Mole crab with eggs...
The rarer Spiney Mole Crab Blepharipoda occidentalis next to a common Mole Crab (family Emerita)...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippoidea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerita_%28genus%29
Some good YouTube vids of mole crabs in action...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWZ_7xHi10o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa0uzTe0gCg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmSY5T-0w0w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkWlyJ-cfm0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFn2YCP6F5k&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEie2VDYEmg&NR=1
I've even occasionally seen jacks, seatrout and flounder caught on them.
Most common are the drums (red & black) and kingfishes (any of the 3 species), pompano (a species of jack BTW) sheepshead, small sharks and rays.
Here's a link to some more info:
http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/marinebio/softshore.html
Mole crab burying itself...
How they group up during the tide cycles...
Closeup crossection of mole crab in 'feeding mode'.
The little 'dimples' you see as a wave receeds are the mole crabs feathery antennae straining food particles...
Mole crab with eggs...
The rarer Spiney Mole Crab Blepharipoda occidentalis next to a common Mole Crab (family Emerita)...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippoidea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerita_%28genus%29
Some good YouTube vids of mole crabs in action...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWZ_7xHi10o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa0uzTe0gCg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmSY5T-0w0w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkWlyJ-cfm0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFn2YCP6F5k&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEie2VDYEmg&NR=1
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- Green Tide
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Re: Sand Fleas How to see them and catch them
I have caught them at haulover at night using the light from the pier. Then go over to the bridge and there is some huge sheephead at the fenders. 5-7 lb range
One thing not mentioned that might help a beginner is you should sweep the rake from the water up towards the drybeach for easiest digging and best catching. Sounds like the obvious to those who have done it, but so does directions for throwing a large cast net.
One thing not mentioned that might help a beginner is you should sweep the rake from the water up towards the drybeach for easiest digging and best catching. Sounds like the obvious to those who have done it, but so does directions for throwing a large cast net.
- Boca Jetty Rat
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Re: Sand Fleas How to see them and catch them
Funny I read this post years ago and could'nt really see the fleas in the pic. Now I see them plane as day. If you hunt the surf long enuf then you will see the big ones vs. the small ones, and see calico crabs when they are on the beach trying to hide. Beware of cheap flea rakes. They won't last if you are using it a long time or all the time. Try to get a light weight rake but one that is solid.
- mmcauliffe
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Re: Sand Fleas How to see them and catch them
Or find a buddy that has a TIG welder and knows how to use it. I had my BPS flea rake reinforcedBoca Jetty Rat wrote: They won't last if you are using it a long time or all the time. Try to get a light weight rake but one that is solid.
The problem with writing about religion is that you run the risk of offending sincerely religious people, and then they come after you with machetes.
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- BLACK FIN TUNA
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Re: Sand Fleas How to see them and catch them
If someone has a good design I could be talked into making them for you. I can also reinforce them but if they are cheap Aluminum it won't help much.
Nice Boat! Now get it outa my driveway!