AbstractWe used a new, easy to use, highly selective, low impact and cheap method of sampling in the swash zone of a sandy beach to obtain catch per unit effort data (CPUE) for Pennant's swimming crab, Portumnus latipes (Pennant, 1777). Metal stakes baited with sardines were used to attract the crabs that were caught by hand. Crab density was estimated based on area of attraction and maximum CPUE and compared with estimates from bivalve dredges used at depths from 3 to 6.5 m. The baited stake method gave an estimate of 0.026 crabs m⁻², which is comparable to bivalve dredge estimates (0.0059–0.045 crabs m⁻²). This approach can be used for crustaceans, gastropods and other mobile benthic organisms.