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Overview

How to target

Small-eyed Ray
Species ID: small-eyed-ray

Small-eyed Ray

Small-eyed rays favour clean to lightly mixed sand and surf beaches, particularly across the Bristol Channel, South Wales and the North Devon/Cornwall coasts. From the shore they’r...

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

Best tide

flood

Moon

spring

Season

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

Wind

onshore

Max weight

8 kg

Day vs night

Day 50%
Night 90% (best)
Small-eyed rays favour clean to lightly mixed sand and surf beaches, particularly across the Bristol Channel, South Wales and the North Devon/Cornwall coasts. From the shore they’re most reliable spring through autumn, often moving in on the flood as tide pushes bait over banks and gutters. Aim casts to the edges of sandbars, channels and the backs of surf lines rather than extreme range. Dusk into dark is prime, but coloured water and a bit of onshore push will see daytime takes. Use clipped-down distance rigs like a pulley pennel or up-and-over with a long (1–1.5m) 40–60lb mono snood and 3/0–4/0 hooks. Classic baits are sandeel (whole or sections), launce, small mackerel or bluey strip, squid strip, or fish/crab cocktails, well bound with elastic. A wired 5–6oz lead helps hold in tide. Keep baits streamlined for casting and let them sit; modest recasts to find the contour are better than constant moving. Handle rays carefully: support the body, avoid gill slits, and release larger females promptly.

Temperature

9–18°C

Depth range

1–15 m

Baits

  • Sandeel 9.3/10
  • Launce 8.5/10
  • Squid 7.6/10

Rigs

  • Pulley Pennel Rig 9.2/10

    Classic for rays on mixed or rough ground. Pennel holds big fish baits; pulley lifts the lead on the take, reducing snags as the ray kites in tide. Great for Bristol Channel surf and reef edges.

  • Up and Over 8.7/10

    Clipped for long casts yet fishes a long snood on the seabed - perfect over clean sand. Presents large sandeel or squid baits tight to the bottom where small-eyed rays patrol on flooding tides.

  • Long & Low 8.2/10

    Simple distance rig for clean surf beaches. Very long snood keeps bait pinned low and natural in surf; sensitive to slack-line bites common with rays. Ideal at night with oily fish baits.