How to Catch Sand Crabs

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Sand crabs aren't the same as "Mr. Krabs" in Spongebob or the huge reddish orange ones that you would find in a seafood restaurant. The ones you are trying to catch are duller and smaller, and are able to blend in with sand better. So if you wish to catch a few, give these suggestions a go.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Finding Sand Crabs

1
Find a beach, gather your stuff, and head off.
2
Start heading towards the water. If it's too cold, try to get used to the temperature.

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3
Find a place where the water goes up to you and goes back to the ocean. This is what the sand crabs need so they don't escape when you don't want them to and so they don't get too dried out.^{[1]
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4
Look for a spot near the shore where there are small "V"s that appear as the wave rolls out. The "V" is the set of antennae that belong to a sand crab.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Retrieving the Sand Crabs

1
Once you've found a spot, dig a hole. You don't need a hole as deep as an abyss. You want one about half of a foot deep.^{[2]
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2
When the water comes, start digging just a little. When you start digging, it's likely that a sand crab will start swimming around in the puddle.
3
When you see the sand crab swim, try your best to use both hands and catch it. Sand crabs like to bury themselves in the sand so try to be quick. When you hold it in your hands, don't crush the sand crab before it goes back into the water.
4
If digging around a "V", pick up the sand around a "V". Let the crab crawl out of the sand while in your hands or on a flat surface.
5
If you plan to keep the crab for a while, place it in a bucket filled with moist sand.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Releasing the Sand Crab

1
When you've held it long enough, set it free. Wild animals don't like to be held captive.^{[3]
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Community Q&A

Question

Will sand crabs hurt a person, or do they run away?

Cat4242

Community Answer

They won't hurt you, but they can run pretty fast. They do try to burrow, and that can tickle or pinch a little - but nothing painful.
Question

Do sand crabs live in Florida, or somewhere else?

Community Answer

They do live in Florida, and in many coastal, subtropical and tropical locations.
Question

Will the sand crabs bite me if I try to pick one up and hold it in my hand?

Community Answer

They don't bite. They just tickle because they try to burrow.

Warnings

Sometimes, seagulls will want to eat the sand crab so beware of bird scat and hungry birds.

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There will be a time when you need to dig a different hole when you can't quite find any.

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