Sand Flea

Other Names: Chigoe flea, No-See-Um, Hop-a-long, sand hopper, Sea chigger, Biting midge, Punky or Punkie.

Description: The sand flea is less than 1/8 of an inch (3 mm) long and is often difficult to see. It is a shrimp-like creature in appearance and ranges in color from pale to brownish. The body has seven segments and it has long legs that are used for swimming or jumping. They are known to jump to a height of at least 40 cm and therefore, it is unusual to experience a sand flea bite on upper body parts unless the victim was lying down. The bites are normally found in clusters around the ankles.

Spawning:  The only way I know of how to tell when a sand flea is spawning is to look on its underside for a cluster of orange(ish) colored eggs.

Habits/Habitat: Sand fleas can be found at the waters edge in about 12” deep water preferably where small waves are washing in and out. I’ve seen them along the rocks at jetties or where there are metal or cement barriers along industrial docks.

Catching:  You are going to need a sand flea rake (Wire mesh box on the end of a stick) and a bucket. Sand fleas are on the beach just at the waters edge. Take your rake and scoop up the sand as the wave is rushing back out. Preferably on an outgoing tide, this seems to be the best bet for getting sand fleas. Take your sand flea rake and drag it in the sand, in about 12 inches of water, just as the waves move back out to sea on the sandy beach. If you’re in the correct place and there are any sand fleas there, you should have collected a few in the bottom of the rake. This may take some practice, so I would suggest that you take your rake and bucket and go to the beach and practice a while before you have a full blown day of trying to pompano fish, without sand fleas.

If you catch any sand fleas while practicing, put them in the bucket with about 6-8 inches of wet  sand and your fleas will stay alive for several days as long as they don’t get too cold or too hot.
Using Sand Fleas as Bait:
You’ll definitely need some colored beads, I use red and yellow beads. I would also suggest #1 to 1/0 wide circle hooks.
Your rod and reel set up should be able to cast about 50 yards. Surfcasting rods in the 10-12 foot length with an openfaced reel that will hold plenty of 17-20 pound test line is ideal.

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