How to Use Mole Crabs As Bait
The mole crab, more commonly known as the sand flea, is a type of burrowing crustacean found in both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The crabs can be used to catch natural predators such as black and red drum, sea mullet and pompano fish. Their success as a bait has spawned various artificial plastic baits that look like the mole crab. Nothing beats the real thing. Anglers who want to boost their fishing success should try live mole crabs as bait.
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Instructions
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Collect live mole crabs at the beach. For best results, consult a tide calendar and visit the beach when the high tide is receding. Prepare your plastic bucket by filling it with 2 to 3 inches of moist sand.
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Walk to an area of the beach that is 12 inches below water. Wait for the moment when the waves are going out. Place the sand flea rake--which you can find at most fishing stores--on the sand with its prongs facing toward the sand. Drag the rake through the sand. Any mole crabs in the sand will be caught in the rake. Drop the creatures into your bucket.
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Prepare your fishing gear. Select a hook that is appropriate for the fish species and size that you wish to catch. For example, size 6 hooks are often used for mature Florida pompano, a common type of fish targeted when using mole crabs as bait. Hook sizes start at 32 and get bigger as the numbered size drops. Tie the hook onto your fishing line using your favorite fishing knot.
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Hook the bait. Hold the hook in one hand and fish out a mole crab from your plastic bucket with your other hand. Insert the hook's sharp point through the bottom of the live mole crab so that the pointed barb emerges through the top of the mole crab.
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Cast the fishing line and bait. Let the mole crab bait settle to the bottom of the sea. Periodically jerk your rod to lift the bait away from the ocean's bottom, then let it sink back to the bottom. The struggling mole crab will kick up small clouds of sand, attracting nearby fish.
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Reel in the line when you feel a fish strike the bait. Depending on the fish species, this may feel like a light tap on the rod or a full-blown pull.
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Tips & Warnings
Mole crabs can survive in your bucket for several days if the sand is kept moist and the bucket is stored in a cool and shaded environment.
Mole crabs can be stored in your freezer for future use when you don't feel like harvesting live ones. They must first be blanched or they will break apart when hooking them. Drop the mole crabs into boiling water for four to five seconds before freezing. When you're ready to use them, let them thaw for a few hours until slightly soft.
