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Overview

How to target

Blonde Ray
Species ID: blonde-ray

Blonde Ray

A large, sand-loving skate that comes within shore range on surf beaches, estuary mouths and deep-water piers, especially where clean sand meets patches of broken ground. Look for...

🌊 Tide: flood 💨 Wind: onshore 📅 Peak: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Best tide

flood

Moon

spring

Season

Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Wind

onshore

Max weight

18 kg

Day vs night

Day 50%
Night 90% (best)
A large, sand-loving skate that comes within shore range on surf beaches, estuary mouths and deep-water piers, especially where clean sand meets patches of broken ground. Look for scoured channels, the edges of banks and the outer side of sandbars; on deep piers target the seabed below the main tide run. Best results typically come on a flooding tide up to and over high water, with spring tides stirring food and drawing fish tight to the banks. Light onshore winds that colour the water can help. They’ll feed by day, but dusk into night is often better. Use clipped-down distance rigs to reach the back of the first bar or the edge of a gulley. A pulley or pulley dropper with a 60–80 lb mono snood and a 4/0–6/0 pennel is standard; 5–6 oz grip leads keep baits parked. Fresh, oily offerings score: whole sandeel (including launce), mackerel or bluey/squid cocktails, squid wraps and herring sections; peeler crab can work where crabs are abundant. Present big but neat baits and keep them static. Bites are often a series of knocks followed by slack line as the fish settles on the bait—give it a moment, then wind down and lift steadily rather than striking. Handle with care: support the body, avoid lifting by the tail or gills, and unhook with long-nose pliers; measure and release promptly, especially large females. Check local bylaws and ray retention guidance before fishing.

Temperature

8–16°C

Depth range

2–30 m

Baits

  • Sandeel 9.2/10
  • Bluey (Pacific Saury) 8.9/10
  • Squid 8.4/10
  • Mackerel Strip 8/10

Rigs

  • Pulley Pennel Dropper 9.2/10

    Clipped for distance; pennel carries big squid/mackerel baits. Drops to a long trace on the seabed, and the pulley lifts fish clear of snags on the retrieve—ideal for surf beaches and tide runs over sandbanks.

  • Up and Over 8.7/10

    Long flowing snood fishes flat and stable, perfect for scent-led ray bites. Clips down to cast far, then lays low. Great on clean sandbanks and estuary mouths when rays are at range.

  • Rotten Bottom Pulley 8.2/10

    For mixed/rough ground ray marks. Weak-link lead sheds if snagged; pulley action lifts fish clear on the retrieve. Fish a big pennel bait along gullies and tide edges.

  • Pennel Clip Down 8/10

    Aerodynamic single trace; pennel holds bulky squid/bluey cocktails and clips for long casts to outer banks and channels. Keeps big baits tidy and intact.

  • Long & Low 7.4/10

    Very long snood pinned low creates a natural scent trail. Ideal on clean, open beaches in moderate surf when rays are moving in close. Works well with sandeel or squid strips.