In New York and Massachusetts we talk about being bitten by sand fleas when sunbathing on beaches. They leave very itchy little bumps around the ankles. It turns out these are insects sand flies or mites, not sand fleas.
Today I learned that sand fleas are not fleas. They are small shrimp-like crustaceans, but without claws- and they don’t bite. They are called fleas because they hop and jump. Fishermen use a basket to dig in the tidal sand and catch them for bate.
They are used for surf fishing to catch pompano, redfish, sheepshead, and striped bass. You can also cook them up and eat them. Cook them in butter with seasoning until they turn orange. They are considered a crunchy, shrimp-like delicacy, best cooked live and seasoned with options like Old Bay, Dano’s, or Cajun spices.
Perspectives on the Road 
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