SAND CRABS FOR BAIT - CATCHING YOUR OWN

Catching Sand Crabs

Sandcrabs are really easy to catch. You only need a net with small holes, and a beach, pretty much. Most beaches have a lot of sandcrabs. Walk into the wave area, where it’s safe to do so, where you are in about six inches of water as the wave comes in, then scoop your net straight down into the sand, not in a scoping motion, but more of a stab straight down into the sand with the end of the net, as the wave goes back out it will fill your net with sandcrabs. Keep trying different spots along the beach until you start catching them. You can also spot sandcrabs on the beach if you see bubbles in the waves coming out of the sand as the wave goes down. This will help you to target a great spot. You can also dig them out with your hand. You can find them one at a time if you watch the wave come up, then look for the bubbles coming up as the wave goes back down, and dig down and grab them. They are right below the surface of the sand. A lot of people will grab each one as they need a new one for bait, so they don’t have to keep them alive in a storage container. Some people like to only use the more translucent soft shelled sandcrabs for bait. They are softer and some people have better luck with the soft shelled sandcrabs. It makes it easier for fish with smaller mouths like surf perch, or kelp greenling to bite on them, but if you are targeting rockfish, cabezon, or lingcod, they have no problem chomping down either soft shelled sandcrabs or the hard shelled ones. If you can’t catch the soft shelled ones, but you want to use the hard shelled ones, you can pull of the hard shell and see if that works for you as well.

Putting the Sandcrab on Your Hook

I typically use a size 1 hook with my sandcrabs, as long as it has a good long shaft or a circle hook, you will be in good shape. Thread the point up through the body above the spade like tail section and belly sac toward the head. Another way to righ them is to push the barb through the shell, or if you want to make it weedless you can poke only the hook point through the shell so it will not get snagged up on seaweed.

Bait Nets for Catching Sandcrabs

The perfect sized nets for netting and catching sandcrabs to use for bait while surf fishing.

Sand Scoop for Catching Sand Crabs

This sand scoop is perfect for catching sandcrabs on the beach. Look for the holes in the sand or bubble as the waves retract back into the ocean, and scoop down in to catch a bunch of sand crabs that you can use for fishing bait for many surf fishing species. This strong stainless steel scoop will last for many seasons with it’s strength and durability.

Berkley Gulp Sand Crab Baits

Berkley Gulp makes an amazing sand crab and sand flea soft bait. Scented, soft, and doesn’t spoil like the real thing. If you like artificial baits, you are really going to like this. Super tempting for fish when you are out surf fishing. Perfect for surf perch, rock cod, ling cod, and just about any type of fish you can catch from the beach, or the rocks. About The Author Mike Mendenhall is the the founder of Mendenhall Outdoors. This website is an extension of the Mendenhall family’s lifestyle and passion for the great outdoors. Everything that they learn, and experience, along the way that they find may be valuable to our website visitors is on the site for you to enjoy. We highlight products and services that you might find interesting. We frequently receive free products from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. If you click a link on this page, then go on to make a purchase, we might receive a commission – at no extra cost to you, and does not impact the purchase price of any products that you may purchase. The Best Sand Crab Bait Catching Experience Awaits!