What Fish Eat Sand Fleas? A Guide to the 22 Species Known to Feast on These Crustaceans

Sand fleas, also known as mole crabs make excellent bait for a variety of inshore saltwater species. Their thick shells and tasty meat make them an irresistible snack for fish cruising the surf zone. But what are the most common fish that eat sand fleas?

In this article, we’ll cover the 22 fish species known to feed on sand fleas, plus tips for catching these lively crustaceans to use as bait. Whether you’re after pompano, redfish, sheepshead or more, sand fleas should be a go-to bait option on your next beach fishing adventure.

Sand fleas, scientifically known as Emerita talpoida, are small crustaceans that inhabit sandy beaches along the East and Gulf Coasts of the United States. They earned the name “sand flea” because their bodies are laterally compressed like a flea, allowing them to burrow quickly into the sand to hide from predators.

These creatures play an important role in the beach ecosystem. They act as filter feeders, cleansing sand of debris. They also serve as a food source for shorebirds and fish.

Sand fleas use their antennae to feel for vibrations made by approaching waves. When they sense a wave coming, they dig themselves backward into the sand using their hind legs. This positions their thick shells upward to protect them as the wave passes over.

Anglers commonly use sand fleas for bait when surf fishing. The 22 fish species below are known to actively feed on sand fleas:

22 Fish That Eat Sand Fleas

1. Pompano

The pompano is one of the most popular targets for anglers using sand fleas. This species cruises the surf zone looking for crustaceans and mollusks to eat. A sand flea threaded onto a Pompano or Fish Finder rig is a surefire way to entice a strike.

2. Whiting

Whiting, also called Gulf kingfish, prowl the surf looking for small crustaceans and worms. A piece of fresh sand flea is just what they crave. Target whiting in the first and second gut or trough.

3. Sheepshead

Sheepshead flock to pier pilings and rock jetties to find prey like sand fleas, fiddler crabs and barnacles. Their human-like teeth make quick work of sand flea shells. Use a live sand flea on a jig head or fish finder rig around structure.

4. Black Drum

Juvenile black drum patrol the swash zone eating crabs, shrimp and sand fleas washed in on waves. They crush the shells with their powerful jaws and back teeth.

5. Red Drum

Redfish will actively hunt for sand fleas in the shallows. Their superior sense of smell allows them to root these morsels out of the sand.

6. Cobia

Cobia migrate along southern beaches in spring following baitfish schools. They’ll readily eat a sand flea slowly trolled behind a kayak or pitched near them when sight casting.

7. Ladyfish

These acrobatic fighters with big teeth often swarm surf zones in late summer. Thread a sand flea on a pompano rig and hang on!

8. Bluefish

Aggressive bluefish will chase down and slaughter sand fleas. Cut a sand flea in half for bluefish to add extra scent to your bait.

9. Jack Crevalle

Powerful jack crevalle migrate near beaches and target sand fleas, crabs and shrimp. Use sand fleas when jigging for them around inlets and passes.

10. Bonnethead Shark

These small bottom-feeding sharks enter the surf zone to feed on crabs, shrimp and sand fleas. Use a sand flea-tipped bottom rig or fish finder rig to catch one from the beach.

11. Atlantic Stingray

Stingrays prowl sandy bottoms vacuuming up benthic creatures like sand fleas. TheyDetect a sand flea bait by smell and electroreception.

12. Leatherjacket

Also called a filefish, leatherjackets use their rough skin and fins to pry sand fleas out of the sand to eat. Catch them on light tackle using small sand flea pieces.

13. Pinfish

Pinfish swarm grass flats and sandy shores feeding on small crustaceans and worms. Use small pieces of sand flea in the surf or near grass to catch them.

14. Spot

Sometimes called spot croaker, these small bait stealers grab unattended sand fleas off the bottom. Use small hooks and pieces of sand flea to catch them.

15. Northern Kingfish

Also called ground mullet or whiting, these baitfish cruise the surf in large schools eating sand fleas. Use them cut up for big gamefish baits.

16. Florida Pompano

Related to the common pompano, Florida pompano eat sand fleas and small baitfish. Find them in the surf zone and along grassy shorelines.

17. Permit

Permit feed on crabs, shrimp and sand fleas on shallow grass flats. Catch them on light spin tackle using peeled sand fleas.

18. Bonefish

Bonefish crush sand crabs and sand fleas foraging over shallow grass flats. Sight cast a lightly weighted sand flea to a cruising bonefish.

19. Tarpon

Large tarpon migrate along Gulf Coast beaches in spring gorging on crabs, baitfish and even sand fleas. Toss a whole one to a rolling fish.

20. Snook

Snook prowl the surf and inlet jetties eating mullet, crabs, shrimp and unwary sand fleas. Fish a whole or halved sand flea on a circle hook around structure.

21. Striped Bass

Stripers migrate down the Atlantic Coast in winter chasing schools of bait. When the bait moves into the surf, stripers follow, ready to eat sand fleas too.

22. Flounder

Flounder settle on sandy bottoms waiting to ambush any prey that swims by, including tasty sand fleas. Rig one on a fish finder rig near a flounder’s lair.

How to Catch Sand Fleas for Bait

Now that you know what fish like to eat sand fleas, let’s discuss the best ways to catch them yourself:

• Look for V-shaped indentations in the sand where fleas have burrowed down. Their antennae leave visible holes.

• Focus your efforts in the swash zone where waves break on the shore. Outgoing tides are best.

• Bring a flattened spoon or scoop to dig in wet sand. Use a screen bucket to sift out sand fleas.

• ** alternatively, a plastic colander or small mesh bag** works great for sifting wet sand.

• Keep collected sand fleas in a bucket or cooler with very shallow, slightly salty water. Add a frozen water bottle to keep the temperature cool.

Rig Sand Fleas Correctly

To present sand fleas naturally to fish:

• Thread the hook sideways through the shell, entering one side and exiting the other.

• For bluefish, cut fleas in half to release extra scent.

• Use a #1/0 to 3/0 circle or kahle hook on a fish finder rig for most species.

• Keep weights light, 2 to 3 ounces max, for a natural presentation.

• Try a 1/16 or 1/8 oz jig head tipped with a whole or half sand flea.

As you can see, sand fleas are a fantastic bait for a wide variety of inshore saltwater species. Their thick shells and appetizing scent appeal to many different fish that cruise the surf zone and shallow flats. A lively sand flea pinned on a circle hook is sure to draw some strikes on your next beach fishing adventure.

Follow the tips above to find and catch your own sand fleas, plus rig them effectively. Pursue pompano, whiting, sheepshead and more by matching the hatch with these abundant crustaceans. Just be sure to catch only what you need and handle them gently to keep them lively.

So next time you hit the sand, arm yourself with a sand flea rake or scoop. Then bait up and get ready for some hard-pulling action from these tasty critters. Tight lines!