Saltwater · Central
Crab - Sand Flea
Ocean regulations can change in-season. Confirm with the 2026 Ocean Sport Fishing Guide and CDFW before you fish.
Species group
CRAB
Season
Open all year
Depth limit
None
Daily bag limit
50 per person
Minimum size
None
Gear restrictions
None
Identification
Emerita has a barrel-shaped body. It has a tough exoskeleton and can hold its appendages close to the body, allowing it to roll in the tidal currents and waves.[5] It has feathery antennae, which are used to filter plankton and detritus from the swash. Males are typically smaller than females, and in some species, such as Emerita rathbunae, the minute males live attached to the legs of the female. Females are around 8–37 mm (0.31–1.46 in) in carapace length, depending on the species, while males vary from a similar size to females in E. austroafricana, down to 2.5 mm (0.098 in) carapace length in E. rathbunae and E. talpoida