Sand Flea Mole Crabs

May 4, 2009 Bait

Moles crabs (Emerita Talopoida) are a very popular and effective surf fishing bait. These curious little crabs have five pairs of legs, no pincers and are well known for burrowing into the sand. Just about any child that has spent any time at the beach has dug up and played with mole crabs.
Sand Fleas (mole crabs) are swash riders .  This is a scientific way of saying that they live on the beach where the waves break.  As they ride in and out on the waves and the tides, the animals search for areas that are neither too wet or too dry.  Once they have detected an appropriate place, they burrow down where they will not be uncovered by the inrush of waves.  They are then able to extend a small set of antennae which traps phytoplankton that is travelling by in the water.

Video of Mole Crab with antenna extended for filter feeding.

Video of mole crab burrowing in the sand before a wave hits.

The movement of the sand fleas up and down the beach with the waves and the changing of tides makes them very susceptible to predators.  Each time they leave their burrows they are vulnerable to all fish that feed in the surf zone suds.  This is why they are a fantastic bait for surf fishing for pompano, black drum, red drum and whiting.  As the waves retreat the mole crabs must be able to burrow into the sand very quickly.  If they miss this opportunity or remain visible too long, they could end up in the belly of a citation pompano.

sand fleas at low tide

sand fleas during tide change

mole crabs at high tide

You can locate mole crabs by looking for a colony as the waves recede from the beach.  A colony will be a large collection of V shaped breaks on the surface of the sand.  Now all you have to do is dig them up by hand or with a sand flea rake .  The live sand fleas can be kept in a bucket with a small amount of moist sand.  The sand can be substituted with a damp towel or damp news paper.  Remember, it is important to keep them cool and damp but you do not want to submerge them in water.

Tags: sand fleas, surf fishing bait