Sand fleas are terrific bait for sheepshead as well. Nov 12, 2020 - Explore Ken Krohel's board "Sandfleas / Mole crabs" on Pinterest. It is best to cut it into chunks before baiting to your hook. Description of the sand flea, also known as the mole crab or sand crab. 7900 – Sand Fleas, Raw 24ct BAITMASTERS • Brand: BAITMASTERS • Size: 24ct bag Sand Fleas. Catch sand fleas to use as bait. Here’s the video: Scouting out a New Surf Fishing Spot [Insider Report] Reply. Which also means it’s sand flea time (the best overall pompano bait by a longshot in our opinion). Rising to through the high is my favorite. You can also use circular style hooks that resemble the Kahle hook, as these work great with sand fleas. My biggest pomps have come on BIG sand fleas. Old timers tell stories of wrapping then in panty hose and then putting on a hook to get them to stay on. Sand fleas are actually not fleas at all, as their scientifically accepted name is the mole crab (Emerita talpoida). Well stated Fish Mort. The bait of choice is, hands down, smallish fresh shrimp and/or sand fleas. Commonly referred to as sand fleas and mole crabs, Pacific sand crabs (Emerita analoga) are the main species of their genus local to Southern California. Sand fleas are popular fishing baits for pompano, redfish, and sheepshead. It’s not like most of us how sand flea pins (like we do bait pins) sitting next to our dock. Look for v-shaped eddies when the waves roll off the beach. Hook the shrimp in the tail about an inch from the end of the tail. Sand turtles are called sand crabs or sand fleas on the Mainland. While sheepshead pull hard, they bite very lightly. Fleas can survive for up to 7 days when dropped in water. If you can’t find egg holder hooks a size #12 or even #14 hook will work just fine. Sand fleas, ghost shrimp and pompano jigs are going to be your best bets in terms of bait for pompano. This is where you’ll find […] To keep them alive to use them as live bait, prepare the following materials: Exact Design Sand Flea Rake Matlock Trading Company Florida Sand Shovel Wooden Mini Sand Shovels Your Bare Hands! Big hooks don't seem to work too good with the Black Drum though.....also remember that pushing a hook through a sand flea dozens of times a day will dull even the best hook point. They offer awesome benefits when used as bait, attracting many fish species! These are easily found near the surf and dunes. I hooked the sand flea on my hook and tossed my line under the pier, near a set of pilings. Crabs. A few bait shops sell live sand fleas but they are difficult to find unless it is during the summer. Red bait was the best as it didn’t come off the hook as easily as a sand flea did, unless of course the sand flea was tied onto the hook. They dig themselves down into the sand. I grew up along that coast and I was taught by salted mullet bait fisherman that small pieces of red bait and sand fleas worked a treat for catching these fish schooling close to shore. These are often smaller males attracted to a bigger female. Those gold kahle style hooks are a good compromise. The best time to catch sand fleas is during an outgoing tide. These are where sand fleas have washed ashore and are digging into the sand. Live sand fleas are one of the best baits for Florida pompano. The Sand Flea features a heavily weighted eye to keep it down where fish see it, and works well for Pompano, Redfish, Stripers, Bonefish, Snook and many other species of saltwater fish. Using live sand fleas work better than frozen ones that you buy at the bait store. Best Free Surf Fishing Baits: 1. You can head to the local tackle stores and find tools to both scoop up sand fleas (mole crabs) and ghost shrimp. Best baits of course include sand fleas, but also fiddler crabs, and sea urchins. Salmon eggs are another popular bait for stocked trout. Most of the time, sand fleas are unquestionably the best bait for pompano. Catch sand fleas using this tool. Next, I slowly retrieved my bait, kind of bumping it along the bottom. Another good bait to use is fiddler crab or sand fleas if you can come by some. While a big variety of baits will work, Fiddler Crabs are best, small Live Shrimp, Sand Fleas and Oysters. Dont neglect the top of the sand bar (farther out). Best Rig for Tautog Fishing off New Jersey Techiques for catching sand fleas (mole crabs), how to hook sand fleas, how to store mole crabs, Where to look for them in the sand, and how to find them in the sand or on the beach. I grew up along that coast and I was taught by salted mullet bait fisherman that small pieces of red bait and sand fleas worked a treat for catching these fish schooling close to shore. Two hook bottom rigs. I actually have a full video of me using sand fleas to surf fish, and I hook them from the underbelly to the outside of the shell. One scoop can get you 4 to 5 smaller sand fleas dangling on a bigger one. Sand fleas (aka mole crabs, sand crabs, sand daddies) are phenomenal saltwater bait when you are surf fishing. Description of the sand flea, also known as the mole crab or sand crab. Catch the sand fleas alive at the beach. When I felt a tug, I didn't attempt to set the hook. Some anglers also cut off the legs as well. Re: Freezing sand fleas**(United States) Well stated Fish Mort. I fish from a pier. Bomber Nylures These chrome-plated egg-head jigs with short-shanks and nylon skirts are great for bouncing just beyond the surf line or across sand bars where pompano like to lurk. Other very productive baits are small shrimp, and … There isn't one universally best bait for surf fishing. Therefore, anglers should use a thin hook if possible. The best sheepshead fishing tackle is a 7 foot medium or medium light action rod with a fairly limber tip. Red bait was the best as it didn’t come off the hook as easily as a sand flea did, unless of course the sand flea was tied onto the hook. Anglers bottom fish with them around the normal structure such as docks, bridges, rock piles, jetties, and more. Frozen sand fleas may be difficult to hook and have lost their scent, making them less enticing to fish.