*******************
********So found this post..i dont like boiling anything alive..especially after i found out that crabs lise some claws during the boiling process because of the excruciating pain they feel (i freeze my live crabs first then boil..)anyhow im on day 3 of this process and so **far the sand fleas are retaining their natural color*********************
***************************************************************************************************************************
Home
Links
Forum
Contact Us
Sponsors
FSC Tournament
FSC Club Info
Online Store
Forum
Login*Register
*Search
Welcome to the*FLORIDA SURFCASTERS*
This forum is provided by the Florida SurfCasters Fishing Club to give local and distant surf fishermen a place to share their ideas with everyone. Consider it a place to learn about different fishing techniques & tactics and to improve your surf fishing skills.
*
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions, articles and access our other FREE features. By joining our*free*community you will be able to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload your photos and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please,*join The Surf Fishing Florida Forum today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact*support.
SearchHomeAll Forums
12345
HomeSurf Fishing Fl...General Discusi...Freezing sand fleasPrevious*Next
7/17/2012 8:13 PM
**Mike G
Joined: 9/14/2008
Posts: 70
Freezing sand fleas**(United States)
What is the best way to freeze sand fleas? Blanch, then freeze. Just freeze in water, freeze in salted water.
Thanks...
*
7/18/2012 6:23 AM
**Dolphin197396Joined: 4/5/2012
Posts: 30
Re: Freezing sand fleas**(United States)
In my experience blancing then freezing preserves their shells slightly better so they dont fall off the hook too easy. I never froze them in salt water so it will be interesting to hear what the pros say.
*
7/18/2012 9:20 AM
**Fishinmortician
Joined: 2/18/2009
Posts: 879
Re: Freezing sand fleas**(United States)
I do not agree with over harvesting these little creatures. The fish remain interested in re-visiting our beaches-*when they are abundant and available. They are an important resource to the fish and thus to us, and should be treated with reverance and respect. It is up to you.
*
Harvesting fleas for use later doesn't have to involve hard freezing them. Blanched fleas fall off the hook just as fast as plain frozen does. Sure they might stay on for the cast, but that splashdown probably cleans the hook very nicely for you. Certainly the inards go away quickly.
While harvesting a REASONABLE amount of fleas, gather some sea water as well.*You will need enough*water to keep the fleas washed down at home until the slurry can be readied. Boil some of the*SEAWATER on the stove, enough to cover the fleas and then some. While the water comes to a*boil start to add plain salt- no additives. Heating will allow the water to absorb more salt than it would at room temperature. Add salt slowly until you reach a point where the water will absorb no more. You will see*salt piling up in the bottom and not disappearing any longer.*Stirring helps with this process. Basically you are creating a super saturated salt solution.
*
Now you need to cool this water down. Find a sealable plastic container, do not use metal. Pour in your solution and place it into the deep freeze to start the chilling process. Allow this solution to get to almost freezing. It will be extremely cold. Rinse down your fleas*one*last time, and carefully remove any dead ones. As you do this slip the living ones*into this salt slurry. It is a humane way to kill them, boiling is cruel. They simply shut down and go to sleep.
*
Place this bowl into the fridge for a few days- 3 or 4. After you think they have absorbed as much salt as they can, remove them from the slurry. Place them into re-sealable plastic containers sized to take a set amount fishing. This allows you to leave behind the majority and just take what you need for the day. You can place these containers into the freezer if you please. The shells will be protected from getting brittle by the lowering of the freezing point of the water inside the cells. However, your freezer may be cold enough to actually freeze them solid, and if it does, then yours will be ruined.
I keep them in sealed container within the fridge. The salt will act as a preservative. Buy a quality container that seals well, so that they don't pick up odd smells from the fridge and the old woman doesn't toss them out while you are away. Keep everything clean and avoid chlorinated water at all costs. Using the sea water ensures the correct smells are included. Rinsing them before adding them to the slurry removes any impurities from their discharges and helps to keep the bacteria in check. Eliminating dead ones keeps those that contain bad enzymes from spoiling the entire batch.
DO NOT overharvest this resource. Leave that to the professionals who choose to make a small profit by eliminating them from our beaches. They remove fleas by the bucklets full, and then move along to something else when they are all gone. This leaves both us and the fish wondering what happened. I refuse to buy frozen fleas at the bait shop because I do not support this practice. The life cycle of the flea is a complicated one, with some years producing only small amounts. Beach renourishment projects also take a toll. Having someone scooping up all he can find doesn't help any of us, it just helps him, all by himself. I say save the fleas for the fish and them that are willing to gather a few for bait.....for themselves. Good luck.
Just Learn to Cast
*
7/18/2012 2:24 PM
**Jeff RafterJoined: 9/11/2008
Posts: 1426
Re: Freezing sand fleas**(United States)
Well stated Fish Mort. I wholeheartily agree with you regarding the overharvesting of sand fleas! Fresh is best. Due to lack of fleas in the 2010 & 2011 seasons as a result of overharvesting in 2009,*I leaned more toward clam, where frozen from the bait store works, but I will not buy frozen fleas. Frequently they are "old' when the bait stores or wholesaler receives them, bags 'em and placed in the freezer, then they become stinky bait upon thawing. Personally I've never done well with*frozen fleas. IMHO*a crab flavored orange FishBite is a far better bait.*
*
7/18/2012 7:55 PM
**bradp
Region: Florida
Joined: 9/17/2008
Posts: 1220
Re: Freezing sand fleas**(N/A)*
Ive bought them frozen before in different bait and tackles and never had any luck.
What do you say when comfronting a Grammar Nazi? There Their They're
*
*Page 1 of 2
12Next*
Previous*NextHomeSurf Fishing Fl...General Discusi...Freezing sand fleas
Privacy Statement**|**Terms Of Use
Home*|*Links*|*Forum*|*Contact Us*|*Sponsors*|*FSC Tournament*|*FSC Club Info*|*Online Store
Copyright 2008 by Surf Fishing Florida