How to catch sea creatures at the beach?

Question

Well i'm taking my smaller son to the beach tommorow, and he really wants to see some animals.

So is there any way just to catch some little sea creatures like starfish, clams or anything like that?

The animals will be release of course. This is Pismo beach in California.

Answer 1

Check the tide pools when the tide goes out.  I have taken students on field trips to the beach and we would go out as the tide went out both in the day and night.  If you can find rocky areas, you'll find a lot more specimens to observe.  You could even take along an inexpensive plastic aquarium, fill it partly full so your son can see the critters doing their thing.  A small dip net will help catch those things with claws that can pinch or bite.  Look for sea anemones on the rocks, barnacles, clams, oysters, sea lice, and small fish.  I don't know the regulations about collecting things in California so you may want to check with the state game and fish office in your area.

You may be creating a future marine biologist!  A visit to the aquarium in Tacoma, Washington had such an impact on me that I became a biologist and instructor at community colleges for over 39 years!

Good beach combing!