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Overview

How to target

Spotted Ray
Species ID: spotted-ray

Spotted Ray

Common around the south and west coasts, the Spotted Ray favours clean to lightly mixed sand and gravel within reach of shore marks such as surf beaches, estuary mouths and piers t...

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

Best tide

flood

Moon

neap

Season

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

Wind

calm

Max weight

5 kg

Day vs night

Day 40%
Night 80% (best)
Common around the south and west coasts, the Spotted Ray favours clean to lightly mixed sand and gravel within reach of shore marks such as surf beaches, estuary mouths and piers that overlook sand patches. Look for sand runs, gutters and rough-to-clean edges; cast to the backs of bars and into gullies rather than open flat sand. Best fishing is often on the flood into dusk and the first of the ebb, especially on neap tides with settled, clear seas. Use clipped-down pulley or up-and-over rigs with 4–5 ft tracelengths, 50–60 lb mono snoods and 4/0–2/0 pennel hooks; 4–6 oz grip leads help hold bottom. Prime baits are whole or half sandeel, mackerel or herring strip, squid, or squid/sandeel cocktails; peeler crab and razorfish can work where crabs are active. Typical shore range is 1–3 kg, with bigger fish possible. Handle by supporting the body, keep fingers clear of tail thorns, and unhook with a T-bar before a quick release. ID note: small dark spots over the upper surface, without the large ‘eye’ marks seen on some other rays.

Temperature

8–17°C

Depth range

5–80 m

Baits

  • Sandeel 9.2/10
  • Squid 8.5/10
  • Mackerel Strip 7.8/10
  • Bluey (Pacific Saury) 7.4/10
  • Herring Strip 7/10

Rigs

  • Pulley Pennel Rig 9.3/10

    Pennel presents a big squid/sandeel bait and the pulley lifts fish clear of snags on the retrieve. Ideal for mixed/rough ground ray marks, strong hook-ups and good bite registration in tide.

  • Up and Over 8.8/10

    Long snood pinned near the seabed with clip-down casting for range; perfect on clean to light mixed surf beaches where spotted rays patrol gutters. Streamlined and sensitive in strong tide runs.

  • Long & Low 8.3/10

    Extra-long snood fishes the bait hard on the sand, great for wary rays in small surf. Clips down for distance and natural presentation; excels with sandeel or squid strip on clean beaches and gentle tide.

  • Rotten Bottom Pulley 8/10

    Pulley with a weak-link lead lets you tackle snaggy kelp/rough ground ray marks; sacrificing the lead helps land the fish. Presents big pennel baits tight to the seabed in tide.